What Images Come to Mind?

There are many words that convey the idea of desperation. Desperation can arrive when you are in deep, unrelenting pain or when you are in a state of frantic fearfulness. You are in despair. Those who are desperate are often those who have given up hope. A related word is desperado. A desperado is a “desperate or reckless man; one urged by furious passions; one habituated to lawless deeds either for himself or for others. A reckless, furious man; a person urged by furious passions, and regardless of consequence; a wild ruffian.” (1)

Despair Comes Even to the Wise and Wealthy

King Solomon said, “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.” Ecclesiastes 2:18-21

Relief can be Found

Jesus has a response for those who see that are ready to give up. He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Do you have rest for your soul? You can.

The song by Henley and Frey asks the desperate to come to their senses. Their solution: “let somebody love you.” “Let somebody love you before its too late.” But the love of just any somebody won’t really last. You need to find the one who can give you rest for your soul. 1 John 3:16 says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” There is no need to remain as a desperado.

Desperado Lyrics – Writers: Don Henley, Glenn Frey

“You better let somebody love you before its too late.”

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?

You’ve been out ridin’ fences for so long now

Oh, you’re a hard one

I know that you got your reasons

These things that are pleasin’ you

Can hurt you somehow

Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy

She’ll beat you if she’s able

You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine things

Have been laid upon your table

But you only want the ones that you can’t get

Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no younger

Your pain and your hunger, they’re drivin’ you home

And freedom, oh freedom well, that’s just some people talkin’

Your prison is walking through this world all alone

Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?

The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine

It’s hard to tell the night time from the day

You’re losin’ all your highs and lows

Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?

Come down from your fences, open the gate

It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you

You better let somebody love you

(Let somebody love you)

You better let somebody love you before it’s too late.

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

They are at rest. They have joy unspeakable. They have a Somebody who loves them.

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.

(1) from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.