Is desperation always bad? Often the Lord uses tough times so that we begin recognizing our sin during desperation. Desperate times bring us to our senses. God uses our desperation to draw us back to Him.
The hymn “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton about his desperation. He was the one who was spiritually blind until he met Jesus. A friend of mine was left for dead when a drug deal went bad in an abandoned building. While he was lying there for several days he cried out to God. God used his desperation to break through his defenses. He came to know Jesus as his Savior and his whole life began to be transformed.
Desperation Opened the Eyes of the Prodigal Son
A young man took his inheritance and spent it on wild living. All was going well until he ran out of money and had to hire himself out to feed pigs. All his friends had abandoned him, but the Lord was at work showing him the foolishness of his ways.
Luke 15: 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ [1]
Desperation Can Open Your Eyes to Jesus
Every Christian, not just the prodigal son should be desperate for more of God. We should want our cup to overflow with God’s presence and existence. In addition, we should be willing to actively seek more of Him.
When we assume we have enough of God we are in danger of falling away from the faith. Psalm 63:3Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! [2]
The prodigal’s repentance was rooted in his desperation. Many through history have found themselves far from God and only recognized their sin during desperate times.
How about you? We can lead an empty, worldly life apart from God and be just as desperate as the prodigal son who longed for a meal. Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to come to your senses? Is the Lord calling you to a deeper relationship with Him? If so, what are you willing to give up in order to take a step of faith? To hear how recognizing our sin during desperation is possible, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-has-more-for-the-prodigal
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.