Whew! I heard this song and it got me! The singer’s voice was filled with rawness and emotionally took me to a place I wasn’t expecting…desperation.
Listen to this song:
Have you ever been desperate? What is something that has or still just wrecks you? You feel wretched and begging for the situation or person to change. When I truly think about being desperate, I must admit that it is a feeling that is lingering in my prayer life daily. Whether I am lifting someone else’s life or situation to the Lord, our nation, or my own struggles, I find myself broken and yearning for restoration. Although lost hope defines desperation, I tend to find hope in knowing that I serve a mighty God. He is one who is in the miracle working business. I guess you could say that my discouragement becomes an encouragement when I lay it all at the foot of the cross.
In the bible we read numerous stories when people were desperate for Jesus’ healing. One that comes to mind is from Mark 5:21-34. This is the story of the bleeding woman.
Characteristics of the woman from this scene appears to be: suffered greatly physically, was taken advantage of financially, an outcast, lonely, abandoned, hopeless, and DESPERATE. Then, hopeful in Christ, DESPERATE for His healing, and clinging on to faith in someone she had never met before. Boy oh boy did she meet The One she had faith in. She met Him finger to thread, then face to face.
There are so many avenues we can dive into from this story. For example, how the woman had a condition that made her ceremonially unclean and wasn’t supposed to be near crowds, let alone touching others by maneuvering her way closer to Christ, and eventually touching Jesus Himself. Imagine the disgust from others as they noticed the woman with no name leaning on them as she inched closer to hope. Then, there is the annoyance from the synagogue leader who was DESPERATE for Jesus to go to his home to heal his dying daughter. That was Jesus’ mission at that moment, and it was being delayed because of this unclean, unnamed, bleeding woman.
Oh friend, but notice something…this unnamed woman who was DESPERATE for normalcy, who was grasping onto faith by a thread had a new name at the end of it all. Daughter. Jesus called her Daughter.
For this journal entry, I did an online search for what people are desperate for. In a Forbes magazine article, they stated eight things that people long for: Happiness, money, freedom, peace, joy, balance, fulfillment, and confidence. I read this list and go, “Jesus. When we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can find and have all this.” Above all, I pray that you will be desperate for Jesus. Yearn to be close to Him, to know Him more, and to fall more in love with Christ each day. When you are His, He’s got you!
Here are just a handful of bible verses to encourage you during your time of desperation:
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalm 55:22
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:24
I’d like to challenge you to turn a bible verse, or two, or all, into a prayer. For example:
- Dear Lord, I am begging You for help. I need You to (Name your need. Be specific.) This is my desire, but I want what You want. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me. Amen. (Psalm 34:17)
- Lord, Your word says that you will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Well, I feel myself slipping, and I need You. Help me to hold on tight to You, Lord. I am giving You my burdens. (list them). Take care of me. Thank You FOR taking care of me. I am trusting in You. Amen. (Psalm 55:22)
I’m praying for you, friend. If you have a need that I can lay at the foot of the cross with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Praying is one of my favorite things! [email protected]
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Here is an article I found on the story of Jamie MacDonald:
https://www.life905.com/the-heart-behind-desperate-by-jamie-macdonald/
Take hold of these words from the chorus of her song. Believe that God can and will restore.
Oh God, I’m desperate
Down on my knees
Send help from heaven
‘Cause that’s what I need
Redeem this wreckage
Restore my peace
I’m not asking, I’m begging
Lord, come through for me
I need heaven and I’m
