Desperate Times

“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’

When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.  One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’  Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”  (Luke 17:11-19 NIV)

There is an old saying that there are no atheists in foxholes, recognizing the fact that when people are in desperate situations, they cry out to God. They have encountered circumstances beyond their control and they cry out for help.  Like when the roar of a tornado is bearing down, the car is sliding out of control, or the medical test comes back positive.  In desperate times, there are few who do not realize their dependence on something greater than themselves.  

But what is also true, once the desperate situation passes, is for most nothing really changes.  People go back to their lives as before.  The lepers were desperate.  Shunned and scorned by society, they cried out to Jesus for help.  And He graciously responded.  Yet, once they were healed, nine of the ten just went on with their lives without acknowledging the Source of their healing.  

I remember in the days following the 9/11 attacks people were filling churches, attending prayer services, and reflecting on the meaning and value of life.  Desperate people were crying out to God.  But within weeks, church attendance returned to normal levels and life resumed with most people looking for answers, not from God, but from politicians.  

The desperate situations we encounter are a window into our true reality: we are totally dependent on God.  The tornado, the car wreck, the illness only serve to amplify the fact we are not in control of our lives.  But like the nine lepers for whom the Lord provided, we so often go on our way without acknowledging what He has done for us.

Today, recognize, even if life is going well for you right now, how dependent you are on God, how much He has provided for you.  Like the one leper who was healed, take the time to thank Him for all He has done for you.  

© Jim Musser 2012