Choose Hope Today

"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Lamentations 3:25-26

Source: intentblog.com

We all go through tough times. We may have lost a dear loved one, we may be struggling with the lack of a job and finances to support our family, we may be dealing with depression and anxiety, just to name a few. There are times I have caught myself scrolling through the endless devastating news stories or posts from friends on my Facebook page thinking to myself, "Well, where is the hope in all of this?" 

I can almost guarantee that each person reading this who considers themselves going though one of these tough times is dealing with something that is lasting more than a day or more than a week, or month, or maybe even more than a year. When we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it makes it a lot easier to get through whatever difficult situation we are in. We think, "I've got this, I can make it." But what about the times when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel? What about when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness? What about when you've lost your job and it seems nobody is hiring? What about when you've longed for a child of your own to be told that it will never happen? What about when you've been struggling with an addiction that just won't let you go? What about when you are so depressed that you can't make yourself get out of bed in the morning?

The word lamentation, the book where the verse above is found, literally means "the passionate expression of grief or sorrow." In this book, Jeremiah is crying out to the Lord during an uncertain time after the destruction of Jerusalem. In my mind, this would be a time where that light at the end of the tunnel would be very difficult to see, but Jeremiah was able to speak of the good that God does and the hope that is found in Him.

One of the most difficult things for any human to do is wait. We are so accustomed to getting things when we want them. Need to get a message to someone? Push a button on your computer or phone. Need to make dinner? Push a button on the microwave. There is no easy button for dealing with life's tough times, but there is a very important reason for this. God wants us to be near Him. He wants us to rely on Him. He wants to show us just how much He loves us and How miraculously powerful He is. Could He do that if all we had to do was push a button to get a job or to heal a loved one? The answer is a big NO.

Our Heavenly Father allows us to go through these difficult times, so that we will rely on Him and find our hope and strength in Him rather than in ourselves. In this way, His glory, His presence, is with us and He gives us opportunities to glorify Him for who He is and what He has brought us through. Yes, waiting on God is hard, but it is so worth it. His plan for us is greater than any plan we could ever have for ourselves.

My challenge for myself and for you today is this. If you are going through one of life's tough times right now, instead of throwing yourself a pity party, try reaching out to God and thanking Him. Thank Him for allowing you an opportunity to draw closer to Him and to see His great power at work in your life. Choose hope today.

Father God, as difficult as it can be to do, we thank you for the tough times you have allowed us to endure. Thank you for giving us a chance to draw closer to you and witness your omnipotence from a front row seat. Rather than feeling pity for ourselves today, Father, help us to seek the good in what we have experienced, so that we may use that to reach out to someone else who is in the midst of a challenging time. We love you and the amazing and mysterious ways you work in our lives each day. In Your Son's precious name, Amen.

*How can I pray for you today? If you are going through one of life's tough times, drop a comment below, and I will pray for your situation. Together we will find light even in the darkest times. Also, if you like what you are reading, enter your e-mail in the box at the top right of this page. You will get these blog posts delivered directly to your e-mail. Thank you for reading and sharing!