Desperation Motivation

Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, “I have no pleasure in you,” behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him. 2 Samuel 15:25-26

Desperation makes for good motivation. For example, while I was using drugs, I simply couldn’t stop using. I wanted to stop, and I promised myself I’d stop, but I was addicted and couldn’t stop. Then, when my drug use was discovered and my career and marriage were suddenly threatened, I just miraculously stopped using as I found my cravings to be mysteriously gone. I couldn’t not use a few days prior, but then, in desperation, I suddenly didn’t want to use.

This is a phenomenon seen frequently in those who’ve experienced some life crisis caused by their addiction. With life imploding, it seems their brain can suddenly draw a line between drug use and consequences. I’ve had enough. I don’t want the drug anymore. This kind of motivation cannot be relied on forever. Eventually the crisis passes, and when it does, the cravings often return. But still, desperation motivation can be useful to get sober and implement changes that can lead to a lasting recovery.

It’s often only in desperation that we find the motivation to do what we should have done long ago. This is illustrated in today’s passage in which King David fled Jerusalem in fear of his own son, Absalom, who was leading a rebellion against him. In his desperation, David once again sought God’s will, no matter what the outcome. Though David once lived for God’s will, he eventually wandered, impulsively following his own lust, which is what led to this current life crisis. It was only in this crisis – in desperation – that he returned to seeking God’s will above all.

I’ve often wished I could bottle up desperation motivation to sprinkle on my life when I needed it. I don’t want the crisis. I just want the motivation. I want to lose weight, but I’m simply not as motivated as I once was. How can I get that enthusiasm back? I can and should pray for the motivation to live healthy, but I’ve found God often requires me to do something to affect change. So, I must plan what changes I would make if I were truly desperate. Then, I must start implementing those changes as if I were desperate. I must discipline myself to repeat those changes until they become healthy habits. If I desire to avoid the desperation that comes from failure, I must purposefully develop healthy behaviors that keep me from those failures.