The word desperation came to mind today as we were out doing ministry. We went out into the town of Florencia, which is where the church is that we've been doing construction and VBS at. The pastor took us to 2 parks where we prayed and did some evangelism. We also took tracts with us to hand out to people as we walked.
When we think of handing these out in the States, we think that most people won't take them, or if they do, that they'll throw them out right after they receive one. This was definitely not the case here. I was amazed, in awe really, of how much people wanted a tract. They literally came running down the street to receive one! Now, I'm not sure they knew what we were giving out. Maybe they just saw that some white people were handing something out for free and they wanted it, not matter what it was. But as I watched them run for these tracts, it made me realize that they were desperate for something. I even watched as a woman hung over the second story railing on her home and another teammate was throwing a tract up to her. She wanted it in the worst way and at that point, seemed like she would do anything to get it.
My thought was this: what are we desperate for? I got a chance to sit with a woman at the park today and found out that her 9 year old daughter had a hole in her heart and was sick. She kept asking me if I could help her. She seemed desperate. It was difficult for me to tell her that I had no medical knowledge, but I did tell her that the way I could help right then was to pray for her daughter. So that's what I did. In her desperation, I prayed God would bring healing, but more than that I prayed for salvation. I knew she desperately needed Jesus. She asked about church service times, I gave them to her, and she had to go.
So again: what are we desperate for? Are we desperate for a life that is devoted to our Savior? A life that glorifies and honors Him in every aspect? Are we desperate for the salvation and discipleship of those around us? Are we desperate to be used by Him, no matter the cost? Because there's a lot of desperation in this world and really only one answer: Jesus Christ. And truly, that's what I'm desperate for.
