Where do you put your hope when things are difficult and there seems to be no relief in sight? How do you be patient in the face of adversity?
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
Over the years, my family has gone through many trying times. Ones that tested our marriage. Some that resulted from health issues. And many that stemmed from financial difficulties.
Life is often chock full of struggle and pain, unfortunately. We have all experienced our fair share and more. When these situations occur, the first thing we want is relief. For God to take it away, for things to go back the way they were. We want it to be over, even if it’s just begun.
I know that I hate being in pain, physical and, even more so, emotional. So my prayers are often for immediate relief from the pain I find myself in. But even as I pray for that, there is a part of me that knows that God is not a vending machine. I can’t put in my prayer, press C5, and have instant good things fall down for me to grab.
So what do you do when you’ve asked God for help, but nothing seems to be happening?
God is the holder of our hope
Well, the first thing to know is that something is happening. God doesn’t allow pain and difficulties into our lives for no reason. He is always working and carrying out His plan. Your pain has purpose.
But because we are living according to His divine plan, we are also living according to His timetable. And his timing is not always ours. Because of this, we find ourselves reaching for patience. Waiting on Him and placing our hope in His care and love for us.
God invites us to immerse ourselves in His Word as a way to understand who He is and what His plan is for each of us. We can see through reading the Bible the depths of His love for His people and lengths He is willing to go to in order to bring them closer to Him.
Sin has separated us from God. Our broken world acts as a buffer, constantly pushing us away from Him. But we can have hope. Hope in the God who never stops trying. Who never leaves us or ignores us. He hears our prayers and He is working in our lives. But we must be patient.
And while we’re patient, we must remember to guard our faith. To keep our hope alive. To never forget that the God of the universe is by our side to comfort, relieve, and restore what has been broken. He is the holder of our hope. And rightly so.
Have a blessed Monday!
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