Anchored... In Hope

DEVOTIONAL

Looking ahead, striving to accomplish the dreams the Lord has placed on your heart, you become blindsided by the unseen. Chaos surrounds you and you find yourself full of confusion and doubt. How did this happen? It isn’t supposed to be like this. Why would God allow this? We live in a world surrounded by sin and darkness, but you have chosen to follow the Light. You have strived to walk a life of obedience. You have prayed big prayers, but there are times where you feel God has forgotten about you or became silent. You find yourself discouraged and questioning.

The reality is even though we have made plans and preparations, darkness looms around us. In our pursuit to live a greater life, fully devoted to the Lord, we desire a simple and easy path. But the road of life is not always neat and linear.

In this journey we call our lives, we will face many different obstacles and challenges. In your moments of questioning, in your moments of doubt and discouragement, how do you normally handle it? Our human nature wants to pull back and to retreat, but that is the opposite of what we are to do. There is no relationship with God without trust. In the midst of your wondering, may it draw you closer to the Lord and not farther from Him. There is a saying that goes don’t let the things you don’t know stop you from the things you do. When it comes to life, may your obstacles, setbacks, or tragedies draw you to intimacy with the Lord. When you put your trust and faith in the Lord it is never wasted!

CALL TO ACTION

In difficult and discouraging times, it is easy to forget your calling and the many blessings you have in your life. I challenge you to make a list (that can be easily added to) of the promises and blessing you have in your life. Start small and simple such as food, shelter, health, etc. In hard times, let this be a list you return to for encouragement.

SCRIPTURE

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” — Romans 12:12 (NKJV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13 (NIV)