Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
When was the last time you were desperate? Our Verse of the Day speaks to David when he was desperate. In 1 Samuel chapter 16, David was anointed king. In 1 Samuel chapter 17 he kills Goliath, and then he becomes famous. The Bible says Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands. Saul became jealous and tried to kill David, and David was on the run — scared, spiritless, even in enemy territory. He then pens this psalm for us: "In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened. He saved me from all my troubles." Maybe you've had a bad doctor's report. Maybe you're in the middle of a difficult marriage. Maybe there was an affair, or something terrible happened — a bad car accident, whatever it is. Have you ever been desperate? I love the fact that through the full span of emotions, God invites us into His presence.
Pray in Your Desperation
Let me give you a couple of quick thoughts. Number one: pray in your desperation. David did that. In a time of desperation, he prayed. What's the natural response? Worry, fear, fret, or try to control things. It's why Paul says in Philippians chapter 4 — when we're anxious, pray, give it to God. Here in his desperation, David prayed. Secondly: trust that the Lord listens. While you pray in your desperation, God hears you. It says it right there in the verse — David says, "I prayed in my desperation, and the Lord listened. He saved me from all of my troubles." Why would He do that? Because He cares. He cares for you, and He listens when you're praying, even desperate prayers. You know, have you ever been with a friend who was really desperate, and you're kind of thinking they should take care of that on their own, or maybe they should talk to somebody else? Not God. He hears you and He answers. Psalm 34 and verse 17 says, "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles."
Three Things to Hold Onto
Let me bring this to some application. Number one: God specifically answers desperate prayers. He does. Desperate prayers are something that really gets His attention. One theologian says God kicks into your aid when you pray desperate prayers. Like David, God specializes in this. Number two: God is working even when you cannot see Him. It's something we must trust God for. We don't always know how He's answering, but He sees you. He sees your tears. He sees your desperation. And He promises to work for you. Thirdly and finally: God uses your desperation to get you dependent. God is trying to do all kinds of things in our lives to drive us to be dependent. Remember Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 12? He had this thorn in the flesh, and he prayed three times. And then God said, "My grace is sufficient for you." Why? Because God was trying to get Paul to be dependent. And you know what a hallmark of the strong Christian is? It's humility. Frank Sinatra used to sing "I Did It My Way" — not for us in the Christian life. Not for you, not for me. If we really want to endeavor to be a humble person and trust God, we have to let Him make us dependent.
God Will Hear Your Cry
God will not judge you for being desperate. Jesus Christ Himself was in the Garden of Gethsemane — He basically sweated drops of blood. He prayed so fervently and was desperate. Do you think God the Father turned Him away? Absolutely not. He heard His cry. God will hear your cry of desperation. Be like Jesus — feel free to let out those desperate prayers, not sinful but desperate, for we want to be like Christ.
