Desperate Place
I’m a bit familiar with desperate places. These are places when it seems like the whole world is crashing down upon me. It can be something insignificant to others, but super important to me. Desperate places are where suffering often resides. When I hear that someone is going through a divorce, I’m confident that one or both of the parties involved are either in a desperate place now or they will be later for sure. Desperate places often call for desperate measures. When I’ve found myself in desperate places, I need a radical shift in my thinking to be able to navigate out of that place.
Job was definitely in a desperate place. His life was ruined from his desperate place perspective. He is crying out to God in desperation and despair. He lost his possessions. He lost his family. He lost his health. As he cries out to God, I can feel his emotions and they are raw for sure. Check this out…
15 You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16 Surely then you will count my steps
but not keep track of my sin.
17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
you will cover over my sin. (Job 14:15-17 NIV)
Job is actually practicing some self-talk. I don’t see a dialogue between him and God. He appears to be more monologue – by he’s also pushing back on some of the counsel of his friends. I think he is also trying to come up with creative ways to survive this ordeal or for it to be over.
I was introduced a couple of days ago to a new song that we will be singing at church called: “Here With Me” by Tim Hughes. I’ve been learning the song and the words of the chorus are stuck in my head. Job needed to hear the words of this song.
When darkness deepens
The path unsure
The sun is hidden by the storms
I look to heaven
And cry to Thee
Oh God be here with me
In every breath
Every joy and tear
Every passing hour
Let me know You’re near
In life, in death
For eternity
Oh God be here with me
When faith is shaken
When fears surround
My feet will stand on solid ground
In every season
My song will be
Oh God be here with me
In every breath
Every joy and tear
Every passing hour
Let me know You’re near
In life, in death
For eternity
Oh God be here with me
And in that moment
We’re face to face
I will not need these eyes of faith
Forever after, God I will see
That You’ve always been with me
You’ve always been with me
That is a promise worth remembering when I’m in a desperate place.
Pressing On!
Dwayne