Desperation

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,

for my depression deepens.

Don’t turn away from me,

or I will die.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you.

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;

I run to you to hide me.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward

on a firm footing.

For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.

Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies

and destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

(Psalm 143:7-12 NLT)

Think about the time in your life when you have been the most desperate. Maybe it was a few years ago, maybe it was last month, or maybe it is right now. David was in one of his darkest moments. He was desperately pleading with God to come and rescue him. Have you been there? I have. Struggling with depression that really had a strangle hold on me. It was slowly choking the life out of me. I had made some pretty huge mistakes and I had lost my job and was struggling to find another. My phone was ringing off the hook from bill collectors who wanted their money - of which I had none to give. I was grasping for anything I possibly could to help me get through this time. I was hanging on by a thread to the faith I had. Deep down, I knew that God wasn't going to leave me like this. I knew that he would come through. As Christmas came, I was unable to give gifts that year, but what was given to me through some nameless people (because 4 years later, I still have no idea who did it) was a glimpse of hope. Typically around Christmas time there was a little mailbox in the church in which people in the congregation could leave Christmas cards. During the Christmas Eve service, they would be sorted out by name and placed on a table for each member to pick up on their way out. That Christmas Eve, I picked up my stack of cards and headed home. I decided to open a couple on my way. (Yeah, I know not the safest thing) As I opened the first card, something fell out. I glanced on the seat and saw a gift card. Tears were already welling up when I looked at the card to see who it was from. There was no name, only a simple reminder. "God is good all the time". Well now I was bawling so much that I had to pull over. What I discovered as I went through the rest of the pile is that there were a few more cards like the first one with the simple message "God is good all the time" There were also words of encouragement and prayers written for me by people in my church. These were simple, but oh so valuable reminders of God's infinite love for me, and of his unchanging goodness. My circumstances do not dicate whether or not God is good. God's character does. (That goes for you too) David wanted to be reminded of God's goodness and of his unfailing love every morning because he was trusting that God would come through for him. He knew that God would. Those cards with the simple message of "God is good all the time" have served time and time again as a reminder to me of God's unfailing love and of his goodness. If you are struggling right now, God is near. He loves you and he will see you through this. His hand is outstretched towards you. Will you take it and let him guide you through? Will you let him lead you out of the darkness and into his marvelous light?