“Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures”
March 28, 2025
Have you ever experienced desperate moments which called for desperate measures? When I think about desperate circumstances, I am reminded of a little boy who went to his dad and said, “I want a new bike.” His dad said that in their house, they prayed and asked God for their needs and wants. That night the young boy prayed to God and said, “Dear God, I need a new bike.” The next morning the boy went to the garage looking for a new bike, only to find nothing there. So for three more nights he prayed the same prayer with no results. Finally, on the fourth day, while playing in his grandmother’s house he found a small statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He carefully wrapped the statue in tissue paper and placed it in a shoebox. That night he prayed, “Dear God, if you ever want to see your mother again…” Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures!
Perhaps we all have had our moments of desperation and acted in desperate ways. The Bible certainly contains several accounts which illustrate the principle of “desperate times calling for desperate measures.” Here are a few notable examples:
1. Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 14) – When the Israelites found themselves trapped between the advancing Egyptian army and the Red Sea, they were in a desperate situation. Moses, trusting in God’s guidance, raised his staff, and God parted the waters, allowing the Israelites to escape. This act of faith in a dire moment is a profound example of desperate measures leading to divine intervention.
2. Rahab and the Spies (Joshua 2) – Rahab, a Canaanite woman in Jericho, hid Israelite spies sent by Joshua. Knowing the impending doom or her city, she made the desperate choice to protect them, even at the risk of her own life. In return, she requested safety for her family when the Israelites attacked, showing how her desperate action led to their salvation.
3. The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34) – Desperate after suffering for many years and having spent all her resources on doctors without any improvement, this woman believed that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Her bold and desperate act of faith resulted in her healing, demonstrating how extreme circumstances can lead to transformative faith.
4. Esther’s Bold Approach to the King (Esther 4:16) – When Esther learned of the plot to annihilate her people, she took the drastic step of approaching King Xerxes uninvited, fully aware that this could lead to her death. Her desperate plea for her people’s survival highlights the lengths she was willing to go to in a time of crisis.
Many more examples exist in Scripture which demonstrate desperate situations, all of which demonstrate, as the accounts above, the theme of individuals taking significant risks or actions. The individuals’ response to these desperate situations reveals their faith in God and how His divine assistance led to significant change.
It’s that kind of faith in God’s willingness to respond to our situations, which may keep us from kidnapping, Mary, the mother of Jesus!