April, 15 From Streams in the Desert
Desperate Situations

"The angel of the Lord came upon him (Peter) and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off" (Acts 12:7).

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God. . . . And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's bands were loosed" (Acts 16:25, 26).

This is God's way. In the darkest hours of the night, His tread draws near across the billows. As the day of execution is breaking, the angel comes to Peter's cell. When the scaffold for Mordecai is complete, the royal sleeplessness leads to a reaction in favor of the favored race.

Ah, soul, it may have to come to the worst with thee ere thou art delivered; but thou wilt be delivered! God may keep thee waiting, but he will ever be mindful of His covenant, and will appear to fulfill His inviolable Word. --F. B. Meyer

There's a simplicity about God in working out His plans, yet a resourcefulness equal to any difficulty, and an unswerving faithfulness to His trusting child, and an unforgetting steadiness in holding to His purpose. Through a fellow-prisoner, then a dream, He lifts Joseph from a prison to a premiership. And the length of stay in the prison prevents dizziness in the premier. It's safe to trust God's methods and to go by His clock. --S. D. Gordon

Providence hath a thousand keys to open a thousand sundry doors for the deliverance of His own, when it is even come to a desperate case. Let us be faithful; and care for our own part which is to suffer for Him, and lay Christ's part on Himself, and leave it there.--George MacDonald

Difficulty is the very atmosphere of miracle--it is miracle in its first stage. If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty but impossibility.

The clinging hand of His child makes a desperate situation a delight to Him.

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Alan and Dina Martin

Good post, thought provoking.

I heard something on the news years ago that has stayed with me. It contained the word desperation.

It said 'In desperation, there is no dignity'.

People were acting in an unusual manner, compared to the way they normally act, because of this particular situation.

When we are desperate enough for God, we will act in a different way than we normally act, desperately seeking God.

I realise by your post that you were speaking about the impossible situation of deliverance that the apostles needed, and came about.

But, God is faithful, and whatever the situation, He can deliver.

God bless.

Our family has been reading Streams in the Desert for many years now. This one is like a "bench mark" in a personal way to us. A deeper trust that understands that His ways, are not always understood at first, but in time become as clear as the rising sun. My favorite part in this devotional is:

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Alan and Dina Martin

Quote: 'It's safe to trust God's methods and to go by His clock'

So true and so neccesary.

By the way, it's sister not brother.

And I do have the devotionals Streams in the Desert too. They are God honouring devotionals.

God bless.