Walking With Christ

It is often in seasons of desperation that we seek the Lord in the truest way. Desperation comes in many forms but always has one key component which is the understanding that one is nearing the edge. A person can be standing right on that edge, but if they are not aware of how close they are then they will not be desperate. It is only when one becomes aware of how close they are and fully accepts that the situation is beyond their control that true desperation begins.

Being in that desperate state is not a comfortable place to be. It tends to mean that mistakes were made, and perhaps, that is the most difficult part for most. Admitting to the mistakes that lead to the desperation that is the ultimate sign of losing control or losing ones way can be one of the first steps towards moving back in a healthy direction. The problem is that being in a state of desperation is exhausting. This state can bankrupt a person physically, mentally, and spiritually. The bible speaks fairly extensively on the topic of rest.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah find the end of himself when Jezebel threatens his life after he witnesses a huge victory by the Lord. After a couple of good meals and long naps he was in much better condition. He went forty days and nights without eating or resting to Mount Horeb where he spoke with God. In Mark 6, when the disciples returned to Jesus after the death of John the Baptist, Jesus told them to isolate themselves and rest. Jesus understood the need for rest but He also understood the proper priority for His mission in life. This event immediately preceded the feeding of the five thousand with the loaves and fishes.

I would argue that the bible speaks of the importance of rest, but it also speaks of the importance of where we find it. In Matthew 11, Jesus invites the weak and burdened to rest in Him. In Psalm 4, the Psalmist says that the Lord makes them “dwell in safety”. In Psalm 91, we see that “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty”. In Psalm 127, we see the answer as it says, “(1)Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (2)It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”(ESV)

There are a lot of references to houses in the bible in a metaphorical sense. The dwelling place, the place we find rest, our house, must be built by God if we are to relieve the dangers and vulnerabilities we find when we try to stop and rest. We cannot find true rest in a place where we do not feel safe. It’s only in a house where God lives that we can find this safety. If one lives, truly lives, in a house built by God then they can stand on the very edge and smile knowing that they are still under the care and guidance of a loving God.

We are commanded to rest. That isn’t a suggestion. There are limits to how far we can go physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We have to be intentional about when and where we find rest. Everyone will find themselves in a season of true desperation now and then. It shouldn’t be a way of life, with the panic and fear, but the lessons learned in that state can be adopted for daily life. I would say that without the panic and fear components that far too often are a part of that desperation state, we would be in the perfect position to serve and praise our Lord. Desperate people have no pride. They live in a state of humility. They find themselves being willing to do and say things that would be almost offensive to them at other times. There is a boldness to a desperate person that is admirable. A desperate person is far more willing to ask for help and listen when help is offered. The priorities of a desperate person have a tendency to shift drastically and only the largest and most important things get any attention.

We are not given a spirit of fear, but that doesn’t mean we can’t live a life of desperation. This kind of desperation comes with assurance and brings peace where we can ultimately find the rest we so long for.

Psalm 42:1-2 (1)As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (2)My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?(ESV)