HOPE TO HANG ONTO

Hope Carries Us Through Life's Challenges

"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee." (Psalm 91:5-7)

How many times have we walked through the valley, everything within us screaming to us that we're not going to make it or that something bad is going to happen to us? If we'd be honest with ourselves, we'd all have to say we've been there one time or another. Every child of God at some time in their life will face dark hours, or days, or even months, when they feel so isolated and alienated by God and His presence.

But the Word gives us hope to hang on to as we journey through the valley. Many times there is a still small voice that speaks a comforting word or just a quick feeling of "safety" that suddenly hits in the middle of the night. It's almost as if we can hear the Father say "Peace!" and suddenly the storm raging around us calms to a balmy peace!

These are precious times, times when our minds are being flooded with fear and doubt but also a time that God makes His presence known. They're intimate times, personal moments that nobody can take away or dispute with you about! It is during these times that our faith is stretched to "hold on", but that stretching also causes growth that is not easily reversed! Growth is produced when God confirms His Word in our hearts and in our lives, and we know that we know that we know He has heard our cry, seen our trouble, and moved in our situation.

We truly have nothing to be afraid of. No terror by night, no arrow flying during the daytime, no pestilence, no destruction ... God has us in the palm of His hand. Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." How could anyone forget something that is permanently and vividly engraved on the palm of their hand? We couldn't and God won't! Hallelujah!

Father, thank You for what You are doing in my life, for teaching me to trust You when it seems like everything around me is falling apart. Lord, continue to remind me when I walk through the valley in the dark of night that it is in these times Your faithfulness to me is so overwhelming, that You have not forsaken me nor forgotten me. Speak through Your Word of the greatness of Your provision for me. Thank You, Father, for Your comfort; thank You for your reassurance. Thank You for that still, small voice that reminds me of Your unfailing love. You are truly my Redeemer and my Friend. Life without You would not be worth living. I doubt that I could take another step without the knowledge of Your presence in my life! I love You, Lord, more and more every day! Amen!

“And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.” (Daniel 10:19)