After a successful career in Hollywood, Milo retired, think-ing that at last he could have time to enjoy life and do some of the things he never had time to do. Then his wife of many years died, and the emptiness of his life only grew more oppressive. When you reach the place in life where you can have almost anything that money can buy, but what you want cannot be bought for any price, money ceases to be important.
Day by day, Milo grew more lonely and depressed. He thought about ending his life. He was, however, troubled by the prospect of meeting God after committing suicide. Eventually, pain overcame his reason. For a week he shut the window blinds of his little home, and sat alone in the darkness, crying most of the time, never going out of doors. He had decided that life wasn’t worth living. "Surely," he thought, "God will understand."
He turned on all the gas burners and laid down on the sofa. Thinking that listening to music as he ended his life would assuage some of his grief, he turned on the radio and scanned the stations. His ears caught organ music and, being an organ enthusiast, he began listening to the music to drown out the hiss of the escaping gas. The organist was Dean McNichols and what Milo wasn’t aware of was that Dean was playing a Christian song. Then Paul Evans, the speaker on the Haven of Rest radio broadcast, began to talk about an answer to the loneliness and pain of our lives. Milo heard God speaking directly to Him through this voice on the radio. At last there was hope. Milo jumped to his feet, ran to the kitchen and turned off the gas, opened the doors and windows while still crying in pain. It was the beginning of a complete turn around for Milo.
Desperation can be a good thing for it strips us of our defenses. A person on the verge of suicide has come to the conclusion that life is never going to be any better. He or she has given up hope.
One of the characteristics of the Christian faith is that those who believe what God has said in His Word have a hope that drives away despair and desperation. Jesus’ promise is still true, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away" (John 6:37). Paraphrased, this verse reads, "And once that person is with Me, I hold on and don’t let go" (the message). That’s good news.
Desperation can be a friend if it drives you to the feet of Him who loves you and died for you. It is never a weakness to respond to God’s love and compassion. On the contrary, it’s the only thing that really makes sense.
Resource Reading: Matthew 11:25-30