“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don’t give up.” ~Anne Lamott
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24 (NKJV)
“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 147:11 (NKJV)
Hope is born in the dark. Like a lighthouse calling out to a lost ship at sea, it will safely bring you through your personal storm. It will encourage and guide you to safety. Hope is found in the arms of God.
When an unexpectant storm hits, it may feel as though you have been tossed into a ferocious squall. Relentless waves make their assault, reaching up to pull you under. Breathless and exhausted, waves of despair rob your will to persevere. This is when the hand of God appears to lift you out of your dark waters. All you had to do was cry out His name.
The Lord takes pleasure in all who hope and trust in His mercy. He waits for His creation to cry out to Him. He longs to show us mighty love and strength. However, we can’t give up and surrender all hope, if we want to receive His assistance.
Perseverance is strengthened during storms that test our faith. To persevere is to ascend the mountaintop of God. It is a necessary trait, a requirement if we wish to see the face of God.
Our eternal home is waiting for us, but we must journey there. Believing that God exists is not enough. Even the demons believe there is a God! It is through the exercising of our faith that we will find the provisions of God. When we are weak, He will be our strength. When there is no way, He will make a way. Sitting down and giving up will not get you to the finish line. The pearly gates await your arrival, but you must exercise and put into practice all the Holy Spirit teaches.
Loosing hope means that you have lost your faith in God’s ability to sustain you. Have you forgotten who created you, the universe, and all within it? Do you doubt His ability to work things out and enable you to carry on? Why?
Maybe your storm was a punch in the gut and you are out of breath. Fine, catch your breath and carry on. Nothing will change if you succumb to the Devil’s attempt to steal your hope. He wants you to take the advise of Job’s wife…”Curse God and die.” Do you really think by cursing God things will get any better?
God sees the good in all man and loves us even while we are sinning. Why not give God the benefit of the doubt and trust that your circumstances are for good, not evil? In some way He is creating good fruit from your circumstances, though pain may be His watering can in your situation.
Dear One, I know suffering and I know heartache. They have served me well by furthering my transformation and refinement, always producing the fruit of the sprit. Do you want to live as an alien in this world, as a foreigner in a land that is not your eternal home? Then accept the storm you are riding out as a gift from your Father. He sent it because He loves you.
If you are of the world, you will have a difficult time accepting your circumstances and seeing them as beneficial and loving. May God grant you the faith needed to believe in His unconditional love.
God did not spare His own Son the suffering of the cross. It was for our benefit that Jesus became man, died, and rose again. God sent Jesus to redeem us, and has exalted Him in the heavens. He is our Victor and blessed Mediator.
Take your burdens to Him and pour out your heart. He is the Savior of the world. Ask Him to be your guiding light as you attempt to stand and move forward through your storm. Your struggle will have an end but His love for you is never-ending.
“But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” Psalm 71:14 (NKJV)
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I do hope.” Psalm 130:5 (NKJV)
“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” Romans 12:12 (NKJV)
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