Determined to Meet Jesus! - When Desperation Awakens Faith

 

We all know the saying, ‘Desperate times call for desperate measures’ but there are some men and women in the gospels who taught us, ‘Desperate times call for faith in action’. The thing about desperate measures in desperate times is that it comes with unknown or unforeseen risks, settling for less than what God intended and being emotionally driven leading to impulsive decision making. Most of us can relate to this in some way and can identify a time we may have been in this position. Perhaps in the past those measures may have worked out for the best but, how do we really know that was God’s best?

I am not dismissing the need for desperate measures in desperate times (context is critical), but I am highlighting its limitations and redirecting us to a biblical principle that guides us to God’s will and plan and positions us to receive our blessing/miracle. So how about we put our faith into action rather than resort to desperate measures in times of desperation?

Desperation is God’s invitation to greater faith. It is in these moments, God desires our faith to rise to a new level, urging us to believe like never before, PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens and move, positioning ourselves to receive the miracle.

There are many accounts in the gospel which illustrates how desperation awakened faith and spurred action in those determined to meet Jesus and receive their miracle. Let’s briefly look at some of these below.

These were not desperate measures but ACTS OF FAITH:

-    Desperation propelled faith to new heights when four friends refused to let the multitude stop them from bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Unable to reach Jesus through the crowd, they climbed the roof and lowered their friend right into His presence. The scripture says, ‘And when they could not find a way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, your sins are forgiven. I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go into your house. And immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.’ (Luke 5: 17 – 26)

-     Desperation fuelled faith in a woman who had suffered from a bleeding condition for twelve years to press through a thick crowd to reach Jesus for healing. Nothing could stop her, not the multitude of people, not her pain, not her suffering. The Scripture says she pressed on, touched only the hem of His garment, and immediately she was healed. Jesus said to her, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole. Go in peace.’ (Luke 8:43–48)

-   Desperation became the doorway to great faith when a centurion was determined to meet Jesus to heal his servant, who was sick and near death. Jesus went with the messengers, but before He arrived, the centurion sent friends to say, ‘Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’”

When Jesus heard this, He marvelled at him and said to the crowd following Him, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’ And those who were sent returned to the house and found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:1–10). Not only did faith arise in this instance but also Kingdom authority.

What do all of these individuals have in common? Not only did they put their faith into action, but they also positioned themselves to receive their miracle.

Friends, this is the kind of faith that God honours; the faith that moves Him, draws virtue/power out of Him, that He marvels at, the kind of faith that captures His attention. He is not moved by our cry of desperation or the desperate measures we take into our own hands, He is moved by the Faith which we put into action in our times of desperation.

• Your moment of desperation is meant to awaken your faith; It may look like climbing on a rooftop for a friend, pressing into a crowd to reach Jesus, or rising in your Kingdom authority.
• God does not leave you destitute in your moment of desperation, but you are responsible to move and respond with faith.
• Desperation is a catalyst for extraordinary faith and moves you to act, even when the step of faith seems unusual or unconventional.

What desperate situation are you facing today? Will you rely on your own strength and take desperate measures, or will you let this moment awaken your faith and move you to act? How far are you willing to stretch your faith and step out to meet Jesus? When desperation awakens faith and that faith is put into action, miracles are never far behind.

Prayer 🙏 

Heavenly Father, I thank you that in moments of desperation you are inviting me to greater faith in you. Strengthen my faith and empower me to boldly act upon it knowing that my miracle is near in Jesus Name, Amen.

Blessings and Love,

Diana

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