Thrive Moms: Warrior StudySample

“The Desperate Warrior”

 Go through and read today's scripture. When most of us hear the word "desperate," we probably wouldn't put the word "warrior" in the same sentence. Surely, a warrior isn't desperate. Right? Maybe by the world's standards. But, God's ways are often very different from the world's. In fact, they are often completely opposite. The world's warrior: 1. Work hard to get strong. 2. Use that strength to make things happen. 3. Put on a good/tough face, because appearances are everything. God's warrior: 1. Admit you are weak. 2. Open your hands and let Him provide. 3. Be vulnerable and desperate because He is close to the crushed in spirit. We find, right off the bat, the woman in this story has three things going against her. She's a woman, she's a widow, and she has no money. In her culture, she was low on the totem pole. She had no possessions for her creditors to repossess. Instead, they were coming to take her two sons as slaves. Whoa. Talk about mama-bear coming out with fierce indignation. Yep, she was desperate. Wouldn't you be? Ain't nobody gonna touch my babies without first answering to me. What mama wouldn't do ANYTHING, even if it means appearing desperate, to save her babies?! This time, not a poor widow, but wealthy and married to man of high regard. But the one thing she had going against her? She was barren. Desperate. Some of you know exactly how she was feeling. Alone, longing, and forgotten. But God shows up and gives her a son. And years later that son dies. Desperate once again. We read on to see she was willing to do whatever it took to receive another miracle. And she gets it. Here's what we need to take from these stories: God is near to the desperate. God fills open and empty hands. God displays His strength in our weakness. God gives life. God brings what is dead back to life. God will often allow us or lead us to a place of desperation (did God not lead His people into the desert?) so that He can show us His might in our lives. You see, we've never been strong. It's always been Him manifesting His strength in us. When we are willing to let Him be the mighty one then desperate becomes a powerful word, and being a desperate warrior makes perfect sense.