I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:19-24, NIV
Hope is at a premium today. And although most of us realize that we need it, we’re not always sure where to find it. When we do find it, we don’t always know how to hold onto it, especially during times of pressure and testing.
Many years ago, Lamentations 3:19-24 caught my attention. I remember thinking that if the prophet Jeremiah could find a reason to have hope during the Babylonian siege and captivity, then he must be on to something! Jeremiah knew that even during desperate times, God is the ultimate source of hope. His unwavering faith in God still impacts me to this day.
I want to encourage you today that no matter how dark and hopeless something may appear, we always have a reason to hope.
We can have hope…
in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
in the character of God.
in the promises of God.
in the love and kindness of God.
in the compassions of God.
in the great faithfulness of God.
in the fact that God never changes.
in the fact that it’s impossible for God to lie.
in knowing that my hope and future are secure.
Where are you finding your hope today? In what ways are you keeping your hope alive? What can you do to become a person of contagious hope, no matter what life throws at you? What can you do to infuse more hope in the hearts of others in the days ahead?
Lord, I fix my eyes on You today. I hold on to Your promises. I thank You that You are the God of all hope, and You never change. I place all my hope, all my confidence, and all my trust in You today. Let me be an agent of contagious hope for those I interact with today—students, parents, and colleagues. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Copyright Gregg Beecher.
Gregg Beecher is a member and a second-grade teacher in Aztec, New Mexico.
4 Responses
Having hope in hard times keeps you going. It is helpful to me to be reminded that we can have hope when we are tested, God never changes, and that He is always near. Thank you Lord for your compassion, mercy, and grace. They give me hope that I will get through the dark times.
Amen, Vanessa! God is so good! Christian Educators is praying for you!
So encouraging! Love it!
I’m so glad this encouraged you, Lori!