Tag: hope

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” – 1 Samuel 16:11, NKJV

Samuel was going to anoint the next king over Israel. God told Samuel to go to Jesse because one of his sons would be the next king. As Jesse paraded seven of his sons before Samuel, the answer for each was not him. Then Samuel asks the simple question paraphrased from today’s verse, “Is that is? Do you have any more sons you haven’t shown me yet?”

Unfortunately it’s easy to get overlooked whether it’s done on purpose or not. Jesse was pretty sure he knew which of his sons should be king. Jesse started with his oldest, the one most likely and continued to work his way to least likely. David was so unlikely, he wasn’t even invited to the party but God had other plans. David was the man God had chosen even if he was overlooked by everyone else.

You might feel overlooked and forgotten too. You might feel like you’re sitting on the sideline with no chance of ever getting in the game. Just remember, God has other plans for you!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. – Ephesians 3:20, NLT

Do you remember when you were growing up how the simplest of things could turn into the best toys? I can remember the hours of fun I could have with just a simple stick. I’m glad I still have an imagination although it’s not quite as active as it once was. But I’m even more glad that God’s power is not dependent on my limited imagination or creativity.

Imagine what the world would look like if God limited creation based on your creativity. Would there be a Grand Canyon? What about majestic mountain ranges? How about forests, lakes, rivers, or oceans? What the night sky look like? Would it be full of stars, planets, and galaxies? Would there be beautify sunrises, sunsets, and the northern lights? How about rainbows?

Honestly I think the world would be a pretty boring place if it were up to what I could come up with. Thankfully it’s not. God masterfully crafted everything we can see but also the things we can’t see. You may go through enjoyable circumstances but you may also go through things you would never choose to. Regardless of which, God will take everything and turn your life into a beautiful work of art.

Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” – Genesis 22:14, NLT

I can’t image the inner turmoil Abraham experienced back in Genesis 22:7-8. His miracle son asks his father where the sacrificial lamb is. Abraham’s answer is simply, “God will provide the lamb.” We know what’s going to happen but Abraham didn’t have that luxury.

The walk to the mountain must have been unbearable for Abraham. Building the altar and placing the wood must have been unthinkable. And now Abraham places his son, his only son on the altar and raises his knife high.

We see in Hebrews 11 Abraham reasoned God could raise his son from the grave. After all, it was a miracle Abraham and Sarah had Isaac in the first place. But I don’t think that made things easier as Abraham stood there with his knife held high. Then the moment of relief comes. The ram caught in the thicket is revealed and becomes the answer to what Abraham unknowingly prophesied back in verse 8.

As you take an unbearable walk of your own to unknown mountains, remember to walk in faithfulness and obedience because the Lord will provide!

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. – James 5:17a, NLT

Do you find it strange to see Elijah described as being like you and me? Of all the people named in the Old Testament, surely Elijah had it all figured out and deserves to be put on a pedestal. And yet when we pay close attention while reading about him, we start to see similarities between our life and his. We see the ups and the downs, the highs and lows.

If we continue reading today’s verse you’ll see that he prayed and it did not rain for 3.5 years. Then he prayed and it started raining again. This is where we decide Elijah was nothing like us. We remember all the times we prayed that rain won’t spoil our plans and even though there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky before we started praying, somehow it immediately starts pouring by the time we’re finished. Maybe we’re not comparing the right things though.

Elijah prayed and declared the drought in 1 Kings 17. If that wasn’t enough, the same chapter is where we see Elijah raising someone from the dead and showing a widow who had given up how to have an endless supply of food during the drought. If these aren’t enough mountaintop experiences, in 1 Kings 18 Elijah literally has a mountaintop experience against the prophets of Baal. It isn’t until the beginning of chapter 19 that we start seeing ourselves.

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there. – 1 Kings 19:1-3, NIV

Now that’s something we can related to. We have a mountaintop experience and we immediately forget it as we run as fast as we can into the valley. In the midst of our self pity and fear we forget that God was still watching over us and providing (1 Kings 19:5-8) even though we may have been running in the wrong direction (1 Kings 19:15). Find hope in knowing that just like with Elijah, God’s not finished with us yet.

And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. – Revelation 4:3, NKJV

What’s so significant about a rainbow around God’s throne? The answer is found back in the book of Genesis.

In Genesis 6 we see that man had become exceedingly wicked. God told Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals. In Genesis 7 we see Noah’s family and animals enter the ark before water covers the whole world wiping out everyone and everything not in the ark. In Genesis 8 the the flood waters recede so Noah, his family, and the animals can exit the ark.

We finally see the rainbow mentioned in Genesis 9. God makes a covenant that there will never be a flood to wipe out all flesh again (v8-17). A rainbow was and is a reminder of that covenant pointing to God’s mercy. So why is it significant there is a rainbow around God’s throne? It’s a constant reminder of God’s mercy.

So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” – Exodus 4:2, NKJV

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you didn’t know what to do? How about you know exactly what you should do just not how you’ll be able to? The answer might be closer than you think.

I love how God often uses the ordinary everyday things we already have to perform His miraculous purposes. At this time Moses was a shepherd and would have carried a staff. Can you imagine telling Moses the first time he picked up that staff it would one day become a snake and be used to initiate plagues against Egypt? That everyday shepherd’s staff also was used to part the Red Sea, used to defeat the Amalekites, and get water from a rock.

The next time you’re at a loss and don’t know what to do, take a look in your hands. You never know what ordinary items God will use to do extraordinary things!

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” – Revelation 21:5, NKJV

Who doesn’t like getting something new and shiny? Things can get old, dirty, and even broken. Sometimes they just don’t work like they used to. That’s when we usually throw them out but God handles things differently.

God doesn’t throw away the old, dirty, and broken. He transforms us into a new creation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV

We don’t have to worry about God throwing us out for a newer better model. We ARE that newer better model in the making!

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” – John 14:8-9, NKJV

Have you ever wondered what God the Father is like? The disciples did and Jesus gives the definitive answer. I’m just like My Father. You’ve spent time with Me so you know exactly what the Father is like. Continuing from yesterday, let’s look at John 11:33-35 again.

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. – John 11:33-35, NKJV

We can’t see a full picture of what God is like through these verses but one facet sticks out. Sometimes God is believed to be some distant stoic figure. The reality is that God is not only near but is also involved and caring.

Jesus wept. – John 11:35, NKJV

It’s the shortest verse in the Bible but it really packs a punch. To better understand it you need to know the tale of these two sisters.

Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. They hoped their miracle working friend would come and heal their brother but Jesus had different plans. Jesus waits a few extra days and then goes but Lazarus was already dead and in the grave.

Here is where we see the two sisters interact with Jesus in very similar ways but get different results.

Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:21-26, NKJV

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. – John 11:32-35, NKJV

It’s easy to look at these two interactions and believe one got a better response than the other. After all Mary got Jesus to cry but there’s more to it than that. If you look closer at Martha’s interaction, she speaks a revelation that Jesus already shared with her. His response was an even deeper revelation building on the last, that He is the resurrection. With Mary, I don’t think she was ready for the same kind of deep revelation. She just needed someone to cry with her and that’s exactly what she got. It gives me hope that God meets us where we are and He will share what we are ready to receive whether it is a revelation or just someone to cry with.