This series will take us through the month of November and is intended to be a devotional that encourages us to be grateful, even in times when being grateful is difficult.
“The backslider in heart judges God on what He “allowed” or did not do. But those who trust Him remember what’s He’s done and praise Him for what He’s about to do.”
I did not post last week because I did not want to post for the sake of posting. I wanted to sit with this particular l installment and allow the Holy Spirit to communicate what the Father wants to be said. Things can be said in truth, but not spoken in that time by God, therefore, it could potentially be a message that is too heavy a cross to carry. God’s mercy is priceless; sometimes we do not see things pan out as we would like because God’s mercy stepped in on our behalf. As a preacher I understand there is a set time for a set word, even from God.
Hope is the anchor of the soul. We live in the midst of two worlds— the present age and the age to come— and both worlds share with us to differing narratives that vie for our hearts, souls, and devotion. The choice is ours to make: Whose side are we on? The present age is made up of many empires, yet they all fell the same story. Governments and people with a platform propagate stories of lack, stories of scarcity, fear, and gloom. We live in a time where inflation, disease, war, crime, famine., and greed are rampant. The powers that be advertise they are the answer to these issues— legislation, vaccines, peace treaties. Yet, we still live with the same situation: we are still in need. This can be applied on a personal level as well; the things we pursue to fulfill the lack in our lives shows and tells us what we place our trust in.
The age to come, or the Kingdom of God, is the other world that tells a story. It tells the story of the abundant generosity of God. I cannot judge God’s character based on the bad that happens in life, especially when He was merciful enough to tell us that we will have trouble in this world, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The tribulation will come; inflation, recession, depression, famine, drought, health scares, loss, they will all come. Jesus told us they would, but our heart’s response is the issue and what we trust in when the hardships come. When we face lack we scramble and scurry for more— more food, more money, more entertainment, more distractions, more sex, we are a people programmed to lust for more. Those who trust the Lord know we do not have to scramble or scurry, all we need to do is trust the goodness of God and that He will supply all of our needs.
That is hope.
Hope requires us to acknowledge what we are going through while holding on to the truth that our God is abundantly generous. That is the story the gospels tell—God gives good gifts in abundance in situations that seem quite hopeless. Jesus puts on display for us how we should have hope. The feeding of the g 5,000 is one of my favorite miracles of Jesus. Scripture says this miracle took place in the deeert, a place of lack and need. There was not enough food to go around, yet Jesus performed this miracle in four steps: He took the food, gave thanks for the little He had, He did not complain about what He did not have, but was filled with thanksgiving. He broke the food, then He gave the food. For those who show themselves grateful, God shows Himself generous. Our hopes fulfilled is found in our thanksgiving and God’s goodness.
Hope keeps us grounded in the truth of the goodness of God and His faithfulness. It is dire that we do not allow our hearts to succumb to our situations and judge God based off what happens. Our heart’s response should be to recall to ourselves and God that He is faithful and anything that raises itself against the goodness of God and the message of His Kingdom is a lie. All lies die at some point. It was a lie that Jesus deserved to die, therefore, for the hope of a future glory that was on the other side of the cross,he endured the shame and suffering. What are you willing to do to be hopeful? This holiday season, I pray we are filled with hope that God has better in store for us. This post concludes that Thanksgiving series? but not our lifestyle of thanksgiving.
Unti next time, continue to stay guided by grace,
Tra
Guided by Grace 