Are We Desperate For The Lord?

1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

            According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, the word “Desperate” literally means having lost hope, moved to despair, or suffering extreme need. Realistically looking at any situation or season in our lives involving trials, pain, hardship, loss, tragedy, etc. – and to be lacking hope in any of the heavy situations listed above would only compound the circumstances of life leaving us simply attempting to survive. Losing our hope, falling into deep despair suffering at the hands of our circumstances attempting to walk through life in our own strength will leave us frail and broken, bruised and battered at best. We were simply not created to “do life” on our own, but rather to invite God into our circumstances, calling on Him hour by hour, moment by moment to be a part of each and every detail of our lives because He cares for us.
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            But as the Apostle Peter explains here, the conditions of our hearts must be right as we come to the Lord, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time (In His perfect time).” First, we must approach our Lord without pride, meaning without a sense of self-sufficiency or thinking of ourselves in terms of what we can work through and work out in our own strength. Secondly, we must daily come under the authority of God, surrendering every area of our lives to His guidance, wisdom, direction, and our will according to His promises. Daily humbling ourselves and surrendering our lives to the Lord, as acts of faithful obedience, opens the opportunity for God to lift us out of our trials in His timing. This promise of deliverance comes through God’s infinite wisdom in completing His work in us during various season of life. In the midst of this process we are reminded by Peter that God is a “hands-on God,” who delights in taking part in our lives as he encourages his readers to, “Cast all your anxiety (cares, burdens) on him (God) because he cares for you.” The Psalmist echoes this promise in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous (those who live for Him) be shaken.” God has not created us and simply left us to journey this life alone, but rather redeemed us through His son, Jesus Christ, desiring for us to have an ongoing, intimate relationship with Him.  Living with a daily mindset that we desperately need Him working in and through our lives will always produce within us the life-giving hope of Christ Jesus our Savior, keeping us from the darkness of despair as we walk more closely with Him as Lord. 
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        Today, if you feel you’re hope is fading and despair is pressing in, know that God your Creator and Sustainer (the one who gives you ever breathe) is standing ready for you to cast your cares and anxieties upon Him. Draw near to Him with a spirit of humility saying, “Lord, I can’t do this life anymore in my own strength; I desperately need You.” Rest in Him today by remaining desperate for Him, inviting Him into your immediate circumstances because He is listening and is faithful to hear the prayers of His children.
 
Connecting Faith & Life:
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            Lord, there are many circumstances in our lives which can produce in us feelings of hopelessness, despair, and utter brokenness. It is in these very circumstances that we truly realize how desperately we need You working in and through our lives. You hold out to us the promise that when we surrender to You in humility, under Your mighty hand, we will be lifted up and out of our suffering in Your perfect timing. Thank You for inviting us to cast all of our burdens and cares upon You, because You so deeply love and care for us unconditionally. Thank You for the promise to “sustain us” on life’s journey as we daily surrender and understand our desperate need for You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.