Hope in the Midst of Suffering

Read: Romans 5:1-8 (NIV)

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Reflect:

“Jesus, please … Oh, please Jesus …” I whispered as I peeked through the cracked door of my parent’s Texas bedroom. You see, my husband was on the phone having yet another interview. Nine months earlier we left the military to move to Texas to fulfill my dream of being near family. After a job fell through that we had put our hopes and dreams into, we found ourselves living with my parents while waiting, praying, and hoping for God to reveal His plan. Sitting outside the door, holding my pregnant belly with my fourth child inside, the Lord closed yet another door. My sweet husband, whose only desire was to provide for his family, knelt next to my parents’ bed, crying out to the Lord for something, anything. It was in that moment the Lord said to us, “I want to be glorified in your suffering and in your joys. In your perseverance, I will create character and HOPE. And when you feel powerless, I will strengthen you and make you stronger than you ever knew possible. I died for you! Put your hope in me and nothing else, my children.” It was in the painful moment of another slammed door that we saw a glimpse of hope — the hope that only Christ can give. Our faith grew more in that time of suffering than it ever would have without it. Our season of suffering produced perseverance; through perseverance, character; and through character, hope. This hope allowed us to patiently wait for what God had in store. Shortly after the last interview, my husband received a job in Virginia. Not yet knowing God’s plan, we moved with hope and trust. Four years later, God revealed the “why.” My husband now loves his job, my sister moved to Virginia and found the love of her life, and my parents miraculously moved a few miles away from us. God took the life we so desperately desired in Texas and provided it in Virginia. I can now boast in the hope and goodness that only Christ can give!

Act:

Ask yourself: What areas of your life can you turn your sufferings into hope?

Pray:

Lord, thank You for giving us hope in the midst of our suffering. Through our suffering You produce perseverance; through perseverance, character; and through character, hope. Your plans are greater than ours and we put our trust in You.

Chad and Joy Files

Hope in Him

Read: Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

²⁸Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. ²⁹He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Reflect:

The definition of hope is “to look forward to with confidence or expectation.” It is also associated with the color green because green symbolizes rebirth and renewal, which we believe is the fruit that hope bears. 2016 has been a trying year for our family. God has us planted in a place where we can only rely on hope in Him. There have been times where we have felt trapped by circumstances beyond our control. Though it has been frustrating at times, it has also been beautiful because God has shown us how to hope and rely on Him. He has planted us here, and though we cannot go left or right, we can go deeper into His word and draw close to Him. By going deeper, we are also growing up in His grace... and hope! Yes, it is a challenge, but it has been a beautiful and rewarding experience getting to know our heavenly Father in a fresh, new, green and hopeful way.

Act:

If you’re feeling stuck in your circumstances, grow your roots deeper into God’s word. There you will find a renewed hope and confidence in Him.

Pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You always offer us hope, even in times of turmoil. Help us to always look to you as the source of our hope and renewal!

Doug and Sandy Scott

Put Your Hope in God Your Savior

Read: Psalm 25:1-7 (NIV)

¹ In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.

² I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those 
who are treacherous without cause.

⁴ Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
⁶ Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

Reflect:

Yes, we put our hope in God, our Savior. When we put our hope in the Lord, shame has no place in our lives. Shame is one of Satan’s lies to debilitate us, to cripple us, to keep us prisoners from living the abundant life God offers when we walk with him (John 10:10). When our hope is in the Lord, and we mess up/sin, we can run quickly to the foot of the cross where abundant grace awaits. Praise God that he is gracious and compassionate to forgive (Psalm 145:8). Shame is a lie from the enemy of our souls — he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). But, we can take those thoughts captive and bring them to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). The enemy whispers, “You are no good,” “You are unwanted,” “You are unloved,” “You’ll never amount to anything.” Can you relate? We can ask God and he will show us the truth and renew our minds (Romans 12:2). As Luke 4:18 says, Jesus has come to proclaim the good news and set us free. These lies cripple us from becoming the people God called us to be. God wants us to walk in his paths of truth.

Who has God called you to be? Who are you?

• In Christ, you are God’s special possession (1 Peter 2:9).

• You are loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

• In Christ, you are chosen to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).

• You are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

• You are created for good purposes (Ephesians 2:10).

• You are forgiven and redeemed (Ephesians 1:7).

• God has good plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28).

• You are righteous in God’s eyes (Romans 3:21).

• You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).

Act:

Receive it! Believe it! Go and live your life for God’s glory. Put your hope in the Lord and you will never be put to shame.

Pray:

Thank you, God, that I can put my hope in You. Thank you that in You I will never be put to shame. Show me Your ways, oh Lord, and teach me Your paths. Please guide me in Your truth every day of my life. Thank You for your great love and mercy. Thank You for forgiving my sins and remembering them no more. How I praise You, oh Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verse References:

• John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
• Psalm 145:8: The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
• John 8:44: You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
• 2 Corinthians 10:5: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
• Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
• Luke 4:18: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free …
• 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
• Jeremiah 31:3: The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness …”
• Ephesians 1:4: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love …
• Genesis 1:27: So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
• Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
• Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace …
• Jeremiah 29:11: “… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future …”
• Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
• Romans 3:21: But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
• Romans 8:37: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Joanna Curling