[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-0325":3},"MARCH 25\r\nBut without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that\r\ncometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6).\r\nThe faith for desperate days.\r\n\r\nThe Bible is full of such days. Its record is made up of them, its\r\nsongs are inspired by them, its prophecy is concerned with them, and its revelation has come through them.\r\nThe desperate days are the stepping-stones in the path of fight   They seem to have been God's opportunity and man's school of wisdom.\r\nThere is a story of an Old Testament love feast in Psalm 107, and  in every story of deliverance the point of desperation gave God His chance. The \"wit's end\" of desperation was the beginning of God's  power. Recall the promise of seed as the stars of heaven, and as    the sands of the sea, to a couple as good as dead. Read again the story of the Red Sea and its deliverance, and of Jordan with its\r\nark standing mid-stream. Study once more the prayers of Asa,\r\nJehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, when they were sore pressed and knew not\r\nwhat to do. Go over the history of Nehemiah, Daniel, Hosea, and\r\nHabakkuk. Stand with awe in the darkness of Gethsemane, and finger by the grave in Joseph's garden through those terrible days. Call\r\nthe witnesses of the early Church, and ask the apostles the story of their desperate days.\r\nDesperation is better than despair.\r\nFaith did not make our desperate days. Its work is to sustain and solve them. The only alternative to a desperate faith is despair,    and faith holds on and prevails.\r\nThere is no more heroic example of desperate faith than that of the three Hebrew children. The situation was desperate, but they\r\nanswered bravely, \"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from\r\nthe burning, fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine\r\nhand, 0 king. But if not be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we\r\nwill not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.\" I like that \"but if not!\"\r\nI have only space to mention Gethsemane. Ponder deeply its\r\n\"Nevertheless.\" \"If it is possible ... nevertheless!\" Deep darkness had settled upon the soul of our Lord. Trust meant anguish unto  blood and darkness to the descent of hell-Nevertheless!\r\nNevertheless!!\r\nNow get your hymn book and sing your favorite hymn of desperate faith.\r\n--Rev. S. Chadwick.\r\nWhen obstacles and trials seem\r\nLike prison walls to be,\r\nI do the little I can do\r\nAnd leave the rest to Thee.\r\nAnd when there seems no chance, no change, From grief can set me free,\r\nHope finds its strength in helplessness, And calmly waits for Thee.",1783499792050]