David Yarbrough
Psalm 34:6 (NLT)
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
Hard times can lead to desperation.
Affliction can supercharge your prayer life.
Have you ever prayed in desperation?
Desperation can awaken our spiritual lives to seek the Kingdom like never before.
In our culture, desperation is rarely sought after. But in the Kingdom of God, desperation can be a driving force that pushes us to pursue God's Kingdom purposes. When the world and all of its resources around us dry up, that can be the thing that drives us to the living waters in the Kingdom of God (Psalms 1:3). Whenever we find ourselves in the harsh wildernesses of this world, that pain can ignite our thirst for God (Psalms 87:7). And once we taste the sweetness of the flowing streams found in Christ Jesus, we will never be the same. As the Psalmist says in Psalms 42:1–2 (CSB), "As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. I thirst for God, the living God." Our appetite and desire for God is a developed taste. It comes from the Holy Spirit stirring in our hearts and giving us a desire for God. Once we taste the sweetness found in our relationship with God, everything of the world turns bitter. And everything in the Kingdom becomes sweeter and sweeter.
As we follow the story of Jacob and his encounter with God we pick up with him leaving his home in bitter circumstances. He is in conflict with his twin brother Esau, who is waiting for their dad to pass so he can take revenge on Jacob for stealing his birthright. He finds himself in a bitter location, or, as the Bible says, “a certain place”. All of Jacob’s worldly resources have dried up. He’s left with nothing. As he’s resting his head on a rock for a pillow, he falls asleep and has a dream that is recorded in Genesis 28:12–14 (CSB), “And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring."
Then in verse 15, God makes some extraordinary promises in this dream:
“Look, I am with you” (promise of companionship)
“and will watch over you wherever you go.” (promise of protection)
“I will bring you back to this land,” (promise of guidance)
“for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (promise of personal guarantee)
How many visions did God give Jacob when he was all comfy at home with his parents watching over him? How many times did he hear God's voice speaking to him and giving him promises? As long as Jacob was comfortable, well fed, and taken care of by his parents, he had no need for God. But when he found himself in desperate circumstances far away from the comforts and worldly “blessings” of home, for the first time in his life, he received a Kingdom blessing. This is an eternal blessing, a true blessing, and a blessing worth suffering for.
Matthew 5:3 (NLT)
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Are you desperate for God today? If not, what would it take to get you there? It took a cold night of sleeping on the desert sand with a rock for a pillow to awaken Jacob's heart. Will you cry out with the Psalmist today, Psalm 57:8 (NIV), “Awake, my soul! Awake…” Can you hear the echo of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, Ezekiel 37:4–5 (CSB), “He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.” Think about that last phrase, “and you will live.” That’s what desperation can lead to…life
true life
Kingdom life
eternal life.
Prayer:
Gracious God, in our desperate moments, open our spiritual eyes to the unfailing streams of Your love and grace. Help us to see that true blessings come not from worldly comfort but from the spiritual depth found in You alone. We trust in Your promises, Lord, knowing that in our need for You, we discover the Kingdom of Heaven, a blessing beyond measure. Amen.
Life Application Points:
1. **Seeking God in Desperation:** In our moments of desperation, rather than losing hope, we should use this as an opportunity to seek God with all our heart. It's in our desperation that we often encounter God most profoundly, as He listens and saves us from our troubles.
2. **Developing Spiritual Thirst:** Just as a deer longs for flowing streams, so should we cultivate a longing for God in our lives. This yearning often intensifies during difficult times, guiding us toward the living waters of God's love and wisdom.
3. **Understanding True Blessings:** It's important to distinguish between worldly and spiritual blessings. Worldly comforts can sometimes blind us to the true blessings that come from a deep relationship with God. As we endure challenges, we get to experience the Kingdom blessings which are eternal and transformative.
4. **Trusting God's Promises:** God's promises of companionship, protection, guidance, and fulfillment are unwavering. Even in the face of hardship, we should remember these promises and place our trust in Him, confident that He will not abandon us.
5. **Embracing Spiritual Poverty:** Recognizing our spiritual poverty and our need for God is a key step in accessing the Kingdom of Heaven. This humility allows us to rely fully on God's provision and grace, enabling us to experience His Kingdom here on earth.