When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. —Revelation 1:17
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me…” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells…” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord. Fortunately(?) I don’t very often experience the awesome and absolute despair referred to here. But the lesser and more common variety seems to have the same cause and the same cure. For me it comes when I realize my failings and that I just can’t fix them, can’t try harder, work more, even pray more… and fix my self. And the cure for these littler despairs is also the same as for the big one described in Revelation: I can’t, but you can, and you have. The question is simply, How do I access what you have already done and continue to provide for me? What you’ve been teaching us are the components of this way of life. Surrender, Connection, Abandon, Obedience, Curiosity. Getting these things right and worked into our lives has been a challenge. It’s so easy to fall back into trying to look good, be right and be in control. It’s been good but not enough, to dedicate the day and surrender our wills each morning. Today, Lord help me surrender with each breath. Breathe out my striving (sin), Breathe in You & your peace. Stay curious about what you are doing, breath by breath, all day long.
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