I was desperate.  I knew I was lost in the dark, and I was afraid I would never find my way out—before it was too late.  Over and over again, I turned this way, going that way, & when that way led me to a solid barrier, I found myself turning another way.

Surely—If I could have seen myself from a “bird’s eye” view, it would almost have been comical, but in my desperation of the night, I found no humor.

I desired the opening, the doorway, the release from my turmoil—desperate for GOD to make a way—more than ever before!

That scene above describes me when I was ten.  My family lived in upper state Indiana, on a pancake-flat farm that my parents farmed for our livelihood.  Really, it was a great place to live when I was a kid because far as the eye could see, the flat expanse gave us freedom to run.  My siblings and I could play outside for hours, drinking in the “adventures” that could be found in the day, sweating, racing on our bikes, as we rode down the dusty, country road.  It was pure “heaven” on earth.

Then, when darkness fell, we went inside for dinner and baths and other bedtime rituals before retiring to bed, hopeful that tomorrow would bring a similar day to enjoy.

Our home was a larger, farmhouse, one that was comprised of three levels (unfinished basement, main living floor, and a partially-finished upstairs).  The upstairs was where my night of desperation occurred.  My sister and I shared a bedroom at times, and at other times, I claimed the stairway landing that we passed through before walking through the unfinished part of the upstairs, as we made our way to the back bedroom.

I give all this detail to say this:  There were no solid doors blocking any room in the upstairs part of the farmhouse—only open doorways!

Nevertheless, even with an open doorway, I faced desperation because I suddenly was lost in the middle of the night, needing to escape, trapped in the darkness and unable to find my way to the doorway.

Right here, right now, I am reminded how lost I once was as God guides me to a beautiful passage of Scripture (words in red that Jesus, my Savior, spoke).

Please read these wonderful words with me.

Are we desperate for the “good shepherd”?

Are we too scared to reveal our vulnerability?

Are we too afraid to say, “I can’t do this;  I can’t make it on my own.”

Are we standing in desperation, in the darkness of the night, fully cognizant that we need MORE than this life can give?

Amazing Grace shows up—right there!

Jesus stands in the gap—the only doorway, the only way to true freedom!

Jesus will accept us—just as we are & Jesus gave His life for us—Just As We Are!

Desperate situations call for desperate action.  If we are not careful, we will run from here to there, lost in our darkness, & NEVER FIND THE ONLY DOORWAY & NEVER FIND OUR WAY TO FREEDOM.

When we are desperate, when we have reached the finality of the truth—without JESUS, we are dead, truly dead.  That is when our deepest fear becomes our reality!

THAT IS WHEN WE FINALLY LAY ALL OUR DESPERATION DOWN FOR JESUS!

&

THAT IS WHEN WE STOP RUNNING, TURN, AND FIND JESUS WAITING WITH OPEN ARMS—STANDING IN THE OPEN DOORWAY.

I found the way out of the dark;  maybe you have too.  However, I am burdened for others who remain lost in the dark.

• It is for an opportunity to share Jesus that we yearn.
• It is for their eyes to be opened, for them to see their desperate condition that we pray.
• It is for them to find Jesus, the Light of the world & the door of God’s Salvation that we plead.