Held by Hope: Biblical Hope to Strengthen Mental Wellbeing

BIBLICAL HOPE TO STRENGTHEN MENTAL WELLBEING

Reflections From

o INTRODUCTION

held by hope

verything God made was good. The light, the land, the waters, the vegetation, the animals and even the people. God looked at His whole creation and saw “it was very good” (GENESIS 1:31). But we know it didn’t stay that way. Adam and Eve made a foolish choice in the garden of Eden, and sin broke all of creation. Today, we can still see the beauty of God’s artistry and workmanship in this world. We get glimpses of the “very good” potential God intended. But ultimately, it is broken; the pieces don’t fit together anymore, and we only see a resemblance of God’s original creation. Now, our lives are marked by seasons of unmet desires, confusing doubts, weariness, heavy hearts, boredom and failure. It may come as a shock to realise that it’s not wrong to struggle in a world that is no longer “very good”. A broken world could never offer us a safe, painless life. Every single person experiences fluctuations in their mental wellbeing because sometimes life is just hard work. What do you do when you are feeling low? Do you feel guilty and try to carry on like everything is fine? Listen to these words from Charles Spurgeon, a 19th century preacher who suffered with bouts of depression throughout his ministry: “Jesus Christ our Lord once said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” There was no sin in Him, and consequently none in His deep depression.”

Struggling with our mental wellbeing is not proof that we’ve got something wrong. Let us hold We haven’t failed because we feel lost in gloom. We’re simply struggling with a unswervingly to the world that is no longer whole—and that hope we profess, is completely normal. The Bible never rebukes us for wanting for he who to hide away when we feel low; but it does promised is faithful. teach us to hide in the right place. The psalmist writes: “You are my hiding-place; HEBREWS 10:23 you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (PSALM 32:7). And the Apostle Paul gets even more specific: “your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (COLOSSIANS 3:3). Jesus knows what it is to suffer sorrow and pain in this world. He really does get it. And so, He is the One who can carry our burdens, walk the road beside us and fill our hearts with hope. Perhaps life might have taught us to be wary of hope. When hopes are dashed, it is far more crushing than if we had never hoped at all. But biblical hope is not a wish; it is a certainty that we cannot yet see. Ultimately, it is Jesus Himself. And He will never let us down. Paul writes, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (PHILIPPIANS 3:12). Jesus—our hope—has taken hold of us, never to let us go. Each day we can strive to cling to Him, growing in confidence that just as He has given Himself for us on the cross, so will He continue to love and care for us. Our prayer is that this booklet will reignite your heart with the hope of Jesus; the certain hope which holds us through every high and low. While life’s journey on earth will always twist and turn, our hope in Jesus assures us of God’s presence, even on our darkest days. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (HEBREWS 10:23). Our Saviour will always come through for us—100% of the time. As we set our hope fully on Him, we will begin to experience the real transformation He brings to our whole lives, even to our emotional and mental wellbeing. Keep hoping with us, Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries

o CONTENTS

Finding Hope in Salvation �� 4 Finding Hope in Jesus �� 12 Finding Hope in God’s Promises �� 20 Finding Hope in Prayer

�� 32

Finding Hope in the Future �� 40

D Just want a daily reading plan on hope? Find the Our Daily Bread devotionals on pages . . . . . . . . . 5,6,7,13,14,15,21,22,27,33,34,35,41,42,43 Want to go a bit deeper? Find the feature articles on pages �� 8,16,28,36,44 Want to study hope in the Bible? Check out pages ��30,46 Need help pouring out your heart to God? Find our prayers on pages ��11,19,31,39,48 Want to reflect on inspirational Bible verses and Christian quotes? Go to pages �� 10,18,38

➊

IN SALVATION

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” JOHN 10:28

“God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed.” AMY CARMICHAEL 4

o PSALM 32

DAY 1

SAFE HANDS You are my hiding-place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. [ PSALM 32:7 ]

ike the unravelling of a rope, the threads in Doug’s life were breaking one by one. “My mother had lost her prolonged battle with cancer; a long-term romantic relationship was failing; my finances were depleted; my vocation was foggy. . . . The emotional and spiritual darkness around me and within me was deep and debilitating and seemingly impenetrable,” writes pastor and sculptor Doug Merkey. These collective events, combined with living in a cramped attic, became the setting from which his sculpture The Hiding Place emerged. It depicts Christ’s strong, nail-scarred hands openly cupped together as a place of safety. Doug explained the design of his artwork this way: The “sculpture is Christ’s invitation to hide in Him.” In Psalm 32, David wrote as one who’d found the ultimate safe place—God Himself. He offers us forgiveness from our sin (VV. 1–5) and encourages us to offer prayer in the midst of challenges (V. 6). In verse 7, the psalmist declares his trust in God: “You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.” When trouble shows up, where do you turn? How good it is to know that when the fragile cords of our earthly existence begin to unravel, we can run to the God who’s provided eternal safety through the forgiving work of Jesus. ARTHUR JACKSON How have you experienced God’s shelter, safety, and forgiveness? What cares, fears, and burdens can you bring to Jesus today so that you can sense His peace? Heavenly Father, You know the times I’ve sought to piece my life together without You. Help me to turn from my misguided plans for safety and to run swiftly to You. 5

o PSALM 139:7–16

DAY 2

BREATH AND BREVITY All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. [ PSALM 139:16 ]

um, my sisters, and I waited by Dad’s bed as his breaths became shallower and less and less frequent—until they were no more. Dad was a few days shy of eighty-nine when he slipped quietly into the life beyond where God awaited him. His departure left us with a void where he once resided and only memories and mementos to remind us of him. Yet we have the hope that one day we’ll be reunited. We have that hope because we believe Dad is with God, who knows and loves him. When Dad breathed his first breath, God was there breathing breath into his lungs (ISAIAH 42:5). Yet even before his first and with every breath in between, God was intimately involved in each detail of Dad’s life, just as he is in yours and mine. It was God who wonderfully designed and “knit” him together in the womb (PSALM 139:13–14). And when Dad breathed his last breath, God’s Spirit was there, holding him in love and carrying him to be with Him (VV. 7–10). The same is true for all of God’s children. Every moment of our brief life on earth is known by Him (VV. 1–4). We’re precious to Him. With each day remaining and in anticipation of the life beyond, let’s join with “everything that has breath” to praise Him. “Praise the Lord”! (150:6). ALYSON KIEDA How does knowing that God is intimately involved in your life give you hope? How can you use your breath to praise Him? Dear Lord, thank You for creating me and giving me breath— and for giving me hope. In the sorrow and losses of life, help me to cling to You.

o JOHN 10:22–30

DAY 3

HE WON’T LET US GO I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [ JOHN 10:28 ]

ulio was biking across a busy bridge—when he encountered a life-or-death situation. A man was standing on a ledge over the river preparing to jump. Knowing that the police wouldn’t arrive in time, Julio acted quickly. He recalls getting off his bike and spreading out his arms, saying something like: “Don’t do it. We love you.” Then, like a shepherd with a crook, he grabbed the distraught man, and with the help of another passer-by, brought him to safety. According to reports, Julio wouldn’t let go of the man, even after he was safe. Two millennia earlier, in a life-or-death situation, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, said He would lay down His life to save and never let go of those who believed in Him. He summarised how He would bless His sheep: they would know Him personally, have the gift of eternal life, would never perish and would be secure in His care. This security didn’t depend on the ability of the frail and feeble sheep, but on the sufficiency of the Shepherd who’ll never let one be snatched “out of [His] hand” (JOHN 10:28–29). When we were distraught and feeling hopeless, Jesus rescued us; now we can feel safe and secure in our relationship with Him. He loves us, pursues us, finds us, saves us and promises to never let us go. MARVIN WILLIAMS What makes you feel insecure in your relationship with Jesus? How do you feel knowing that your security in Him depends on His sufficiency and not your weakness? Jesus, when I let go of You because of my sin, You never let go of me because of Your grace.

o FEATURE ARTICLE

THE PAIN WE’VE KNOWN

s a child, I hated going to the dentist. But it wasn’t just the normal discomfort that I feared. You see, our dentist didn’t use any numbing agent to reduce the pain when he had to drill a hole in my tooth for a filling. He had been our family dentist for years, so his way of doing things was all I knew. I had heard people complain about going to the dentist, and I figured this was why: trips to the dentist brought skull-rattling pain. I would just close my eyes and do my best not to cry or jump out of my seat. I didn’t realise things could be different. Then one day, I was lamenting an upcoming dentist appointment to a friend, and she told me her least favourite part was having her cheek numb for the rest of the day. “Numb?” I asked, my eyes wide with curiosity. And then she told me about the wonderful invention of Novocain, which was breaking news to me. The following afternoon, as I reclined in the dentist’s chair, I uttered: “I’d like some Novocain, if that’s okay?” “Sure it is. But why?” he asked. “You’ve always had such a remarkable tolerance for pain that I didn’t think you needed it.” Too many of us live as if the pain we’ve known is all that there will ever be. Even those of us who are Christians may live as though the gospel, a word that means “good news”, has little good to offer us today. We live as though it were only an event in the past—Jesus’ death

on a cross and His resurrection to new life. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are indeed the most important days in history. But perhaps it feels like the gospel makes little difference in our lives right now. We don’t realise all it gives us access to. Because of the gospel we have been welcomed into the royal family (ROMANS 8:14–17). We can escape the muck and mire of sin (ROMANS 6:15–19). The power of evil has been defeated (JOHN 12:31). Broken relationships don’t have to stay that way (COLOSSIANS 3:12–15). God is making all things new (REVELATION 21:5). We have Now this is eternal genuine hope (COLOSSIANS 1:27). life: that they No matter what troubles us today, or know you, the what trials may find us tomorrow, we have the assurance that God is weaving only true God, and together the greatest ending to our story. Jesus Christ, whom The final, everlasting chapter will be “immeasurably more than all we ask or you have sent. imagine” (EPHESIANS 3:20). And in the here JOHN 17:3 and now, we have that new life already bursting within us. Jesus prayed: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (JOHN 17:3). This “eternal life” begins the moment we come to know Christ. That means it’s available today. Right now. It means that everything broken in this world is being made whole. It may not feel that way when heartaches threaten to swallow us whole, but God is still at work, redeeming broken people and our broken world. It’s the reason we can stand when the weight of this life seems ready to crush us. It’s the reason we can have hope amidst suffering. Jesus has already won the victory. And it’s ours to claim. Even now. Even today. JOHN GRECO

6 Verses for When You Need Hope

“The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” PSALM 33:18

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ISAIAH 40:31

“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

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17-18

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” HEBREWS 10:23

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” 1 PETER 1:3-4

A Prayer of Repentance Lord God, I acknowledge I have fallen short of Your holiness. I confess my sin, my weakness, my waywardness in submission to You. I need You. Thank You that Your grace is greater than my sin; thank You for removing my every wrong deed from me, as far as the East is from the West. I entrust my whole life to Jesus—He is my life and my salvation and my hope forevermore. Amen

A Prayer for Assurance Father God, You promise to put Your Spirit within everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. I ask for the assurance of Your Spirit within me today. Fill me to overflowing with Your presence and love; may I know the wonderful blessing of being Your child and united to You for all eternity. The world turns and life constantly changes, but Your Word remains. I am marked in Christ with the seal of the Holy Spirit. I praise You for all You have done for me. Amen

A Prayer of Thankfulness Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me just how great Your love is by sending Christ to die for me while I was still a sinner. Lord God, thank You for the precious gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. I proclaim with the psalmist: “Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness!” May my thankfulness transform each day as I praise Your glorious name. Amen 11

➋

IN JESUS

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” HEBREWS 4:15

“When I reach the lowest depths, I have an inward peace which no pain or depression can in the least disturb. Trusting in Jesus Christ my Saviour, there is still a blessed quietness in the deep caverns of my soul.” CHARLES SPURGEON 12

o ISAIAH 53:1-6

DAY 4

LOVE’S GREATEST GIFT We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [ ISAIAH 53:6 ]

y son Geoff was leaving a shop when he saw an abandoned walking frame (a mobility aid) on the ground. I hope there isn’t a person back there who needs help, he thought. He glanced behind the building and found a homeless man unconscious on the pavement. Geoff roused him and asked if he was okay. “I’m trying to drink myself to death,” he responded. “My tent broke in a storm, and I lost everything. I don’t want to live.” Geoff called a Christian rehabilitation ministry, and while they waited for help, he ran home briefly and brought the man his own camping tent. “What’s your name?” Geoff asked. “Geoffrey,” the homeless man answered, “with a G.” Geoff hadn’t mentioned his own name or its uncommon spelling. “Dad,” he told me later, “that could have been me.” Geoff once struggled with substance abuse himself, and he helped the man because of the kindness he’d received from God. Isaiah the prophet used these words to anticipate God’s mercy to us in Jesus: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (ISAIAH 53:6). Christ, our Saviour, didn’t leave us lost, alone and hopeless in despair. He chose to identify with us and lift us in love, so that we may be set JAMES BANKS free to live anew in Him. There’s no greater gift. Where would you be without Jesus? How can you be His hands and feet for someone in need? Thank You, Jesus, for coming to rescue me. Help me to join in Your search-and-rescue mission and to share Your love with someone who needs You today. 13

o JOHN 1:1–5

DAY 5

PUDDLES OF SUNSHINE On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. [ MATTHEW 4:16 ]

t was a warm summer day and my four-year-old granddaughter Mollie and I were taking a break from playing ball. As we sat on the porch with our glasses of water, Mollie looked out at the garden and said, “Look at the puddles of sunshine.” The sunlight was filtering through the thick foliage to create a pattern of light amid the dark shadows. Puddles of sunshine. Isn’t this a beautiful image for finding hope in dark days? In the midst of what can often be challenging times—when good news seems in short supply—instead of concentrating on the shadows, we can focus on the light. The Light has a name—Jesus. Matthew quoted Isaiah to describe the brightness that came into the world when Jesus arrived: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned” (MATTHEW 4:16; SEE ALSO ISAIAH 9:2). The effects of sin are all around us as we live in the “land of the shadow of death.” But shining through that shadow is Jesus, the grand and glorious light of the world (JOHN 1:4–5). The sunshine of Jesus’ love and compassion breaks through the shadow—giving us “puddles of sunshine” to illuminate our day and DAVE BRANON brighten our hearts with hope. What darkness is clouding your day? How can you allow Jesus’ presence and love to disperse those clouds as His light brings you joy and hope? Jesus, while we struggle through a world full of trouble, I need Your presence. I need Your uplifting love to take me out of the shadows and help me stand in the light of Your magnificence.

o JOHN 1:1–18

DAY 6

THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14

ohn Babler is the chaplain for the police and fire departments in his community. During a twenty-two week sabbatical from his job, he attended police academy training so that he could better understand the situations law enforcement officers face. Through spending time with the other cadets and learning about the intense challenges of the profession, Babler gained a new sense of humility and empathy. In the future, he hopes to be more effective as he counsels police officers who struggle with emotional stress, fatigue and loss. We know that God understands the situations we face because He made us and sees everything that happens to us. We also know He understands because He has been to earth and experienced life as a human being. He “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” as the person of Jesus Christ (JOHN 1:14). Jesus’ earthly life included a wide range of difficulty. He felt the searing heat of the sun, the pain of an empty stomach and the uncertainty of homelessness. Emotionally, He endured the tension of disagreements, the burn of betrayal and the ongoing threat of violence. Jesus experienced the joys of friendship and family love, as well as the worst problems that we face here on earth. He provides hope. He is the Wonderful Counsellor who patiently listens to our concerns with insight and care (ISAIAH 9:6). He is the One who can say, “I’ve been through that. I understand.” JENNIFER BENSON SCHULDT How does it encourage you that God doesn’t just know about how you are doing today, but completely understands how you are feeling? Dear Lord, thank You for caring enough to humble Yourself and come to earth as a human being. I know You understand everything in my life. I give my worries to You. 15

o FEATURE ARTICLE

GOD IN THE THICK OF THINGS

hen our son Wyatt was a toddler, he’d often call for me from his upstairs bedroom. One evening I opened his door to find him trembling, hunched against the wall in the corner of his bed, clutching his favourite blue blanket as if he were clinging to life itself. “I’m scared, Daddy,” he said, spilling out how hairy, green monsters lurked in the closet and razor-teethed shadows slid across the floor, ready to pounce. Though I reasoned with him about how the feared foes weren’t real and though I opened his closet so he could see nothing but clothes and piles of Lego, my rational logic did little to calm him. With wide, desperate eyes, he asked, “If I really need something, will you come up?” What my son truly feared, I recognised, was being alone. What Wyatt really needed wasn’t tools to rationalise away his fears but rather he needed to have his dad present right there with him in the middle of his panic. He needed to know his parents were close. He needed to know that if any creepy creature were ever foolish enough to enter our son’s room, dad would be there, full of fire and fury and ready to dish out a major monster takedown. “You bet,” I answered, grabbing him and pulling him close. “If you need me, I’ll be up here faster than lightning.” Wyatt’s shoulders relaxed just a little, and he released the first crack of a grin. “And you know what else? When you need help, I’ll crush every monster there is.” Wyatt beamed, leaning forward. He liked the idea of me crushing stuff. “Do you know why you don’t need to be afraid?” I asked. “No,” he answered, sitting up on his knees in his bed, wide-eyed and now half-hoping a monster or two would saunter this way. “Because your daddy is stronger than any monster there is. And I’m right here with you.” I slid Wyatt under his covers, tucking him in so he could drift off to sleep and dream of his dad snagging one of those monsters in a head-

lock. Wyatt’s fears were tamed, not by an argument or a psychological technique, but by his dad’s hand, voice and presence. This isn’t only true for parents dealing with children’s night terrors, but it’s precisely the way God meets His children with hope in the middle of our dread. When God acted to rescue us, to salvage the world from the terrible mess we’ve made of things, He didn’t offer us a psychological theory or a moral code. Rather, God gave us Himself. Jesus came to be with us, to be near us, to be close. When Matthew’s gospel begins to tell us the story of Jesus, it starts with—of all things—a genealogy: a litany of family after family, generation after generation. We read names we know (Abraham, Isaac, David) and names less familiar (Perez, Amon, Shealtiel). But the point seems to be that God, in Jesus, arrived right in the middle of human history, right into the thick of things. Matthew also tells us that Jesus’ arrival fulfilled the prophet Isaiah’s promise: “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (MATTHEW 1:23; ISAIAH 7:14). From the very beginning, it was God’s intention—has always been God’s intention—to be present with those He loves. One of our great fears, from that first time our parents went out for the evening to our most recent conflict with a spouse or friend, is that we’ll be abandoned. We fear this with God too, that He’ll grow so annoyed with us or disinterested in our plight that He’ll leave us alone. But God has demonstrated to us that this fear is a lie. Jesus is Immanuel. God is with us. He’ll never leave us, never forsake us. That is the rock-solid hope we have in Him. And in Jesus, God became human. He insisted on being present in the very centre of our reality, in the thick of our sorrows and joys and confusion. Jesus doesn’t give us wisdom from a distance, platitudes that are true but hollow and disengaged. Rather, in Jesus, God is with us, truly knowing and understanding what we’re going through—after all, He’s been through the worst this world has to offer. God welcomes us. God draws us close. Paul tells us that though Jesus never sinned, He went so far as to become sin for us. Jesus refused to leave us in our ruin; He arrived—and still arrives—in the very places we’re most desperate to be loved and healed. We can always call on Jesus to come to us in our midnight fears; He stands ready to help us deal with the monsters we face. WINN COLLIER

11 Ways Jesus is Described in John’s Gospel

Jesus is God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” JOHN 1:1

Jesus is the Word: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” JOHN 1:14

Jesus is the Lamb: “John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” JOHN 1:29

Jesus is the Messiah: “The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am he.’” JOHN 4:25-26 Jesus is the Bread of Life: “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” JOHN 6:35

Jesus is the Light of the World: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” JOHN 8:12

Jesus is I AM: ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ JOHN 8:58

Jesus is the Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” JOHN 10:11

Jesus is Eternal Life: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” JOHN 11:25-26

Jesus is the Way: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” JOHN 14:6

Jesus is the True Vine: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” JOHN 15:1

A Prayer to Know Jesus Better Dear Lord Jesus, I long to know You more, to draw closer to You. I know so much about You in the gospel accounts: Your birth, Your ministry, Your crucifixion, burial and resurrection, and that You are now seated on heaven’s throne. But Lord, I want to know You personally. I want the assurance of being held by Your mighty hand of salvation; I long to walk each day with my Good Shepherd. Help me day by day to grow in grace and in knowledge of You, until I can say with the Apostle Paul, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” I ask this in Your precious name, Amen

A Prayer to Hide in Jesus Jesus, You are the perfect hiding place for me. You understand my every emotion and burden, and invite me into Your safe refuge, just as I am. Forgive me for turning to other people and places to try and hide myself away when I feel overwhelmed. Thank You that I can rest in the secret place of Your presence, under the shadow of Your wings. Here I find strength, comfort and hope for today. You are my anchor in the storm; and even in the difficult days, I choose to praise You, Lord. Amen

A Prayer to Give Your Burdens to Jesus Lord Jesus, remind me today that there is no emotion I can feel, no experience I can go through, no tears I can weep, that You won’t understand. I put my heart, and all that weighs it down, in Your hands. Have Your way, Lord. I believe the same mighty power that raised You from the dead is at work in my life. Walk with me through this time of uncertainty and hold my burdens as Your own. Fill me with the peace of Your presence. Amen

➌

IN GOD’S PROMISES

“No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 1:20

“Gather the riches of God’s promises. Nobody can take away from you those texts from the Bible which you have learned by heart.” CORRIE TEN BOOM 20

o ISAIAH 40:27–31

DAY 7

ON EAGLE’S WINGS Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. [ ISAIAH 40:31 ]

ony and Sharon were stunned to learn that Tony had a progressive disease affecting the brain and nervous system that would eventually lead to death. After the diagnosis, Sharon asked Tony what he was thinking. He replied, “Eagle.” She nodded. Early in their marriage, they committed to hope in God, especially during difficulties, for then they could “soar high on wings like eagles” (ISAIAH 40:31). They had learned that eagles use the winds and what are known as updrafts that come off hills and mountains to lift them higher as they soar in flight. As they faced his debilitating disease, Sharon said, “Tony and I chose to soar above the storm.” Day by day they depended on God’s strength to lift them above despair. The Israelites to whom Isaiah gave God’s message may have been losing hope as they lived in exile, far from their home in the promised land. God promised them that He never grows weak or weary (V. 28) and that He renews the strength of those who are depleted (V. 29). They needed only to look to Him. Tony died eight years after his diagnosis, but he and Sharon never felt abandoned by God as they depended on Him day by day, holding tightly to His promises about Himself. When we’re facing physical, mental, emotional or spiritual challenges, may we too look to Him for AMY BOUCHER PYE strength—soaring like eagles. What hope do you find in the promises in Isaiah 40:27–31? What challenges do you need God’s strength for today? Jesus, when I feel anxious and afraid, fill me with Your hope and strength as I depend on You. 21

o PSALM 42

DAY 8

SPOTTING RAINBOWS OF HOPE Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him. [ PSALM 42:5 ]

uring a holiday in October, another battle with chronic pain forced me to spend the first few days recovering in our room. My mood became as overcast as the sky. When I finally ventured out to enjoy sightseeing at a nearby lighthouse with my husband, grey clouds blocked much of our view. Still, I snapped a few photos of the shadowy mountains and dull horizon. Later, disappointed because a downpour tucked us in for the night, I skimmed through our digital pictures. Gasping, I handed my husband the camera. “A rainbow!” Focused on the gloominess earlier, I’d missed out on God refreshing my weary spirit with the unexpected glimpse of hope (GENESIS 9:13–16). Physical or emotional suffering can often drag us down into the depths of despair. Desperate for refreshment, we thirst for reminders of God’s constant presence and infinite power (PSALM 42:1–3). As we recall the countless times God has come through for us and for others in the past, we can trust that our hope is secured in Him no matter how downcast we feel in the moment (VV. 4–6). When bad attitudes or difficult circumstances dim our vision, God invites us to call on Him, read the Bible and trust His faithfulness (VV. 7–11). As we seek God, we can rely on Him to help us spot rainbows of hope arched over the darkest days. XOCHITL DIXON Has a bad attitude ever blocked you from seeing God’s goodness? How can you make sure your hope is centred on His will? Loving God, thank You for refreshing my spirit and turning my plea for mercy into hope-filled praises.

o 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7–10

DAY 9

SUFFICIENT GRACE My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. [ 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 ]

tress was eating me up as Martha and I flew overseas for a mission trip. My husband and I had five days to figure something out before our family became homeless. Sensing my anxiety, Martha asked me, “What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen?” I described the most preposterous scenario I could envision. I will never forget her next question: “And do you believe God could give you the grace for that?” I was stunned. Martha’s questions forced me to acknowledge a life-changing truth: even if the worst happened, God was able to give us the grace and provision to endure it. We truly had nothing to fear! When Paul had an insurmountable problem, he asked God to remove it (2 CORINTHIANS 12:7–8). Instead, God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (V. 9). Our hope is not in quick fixes or things ‘somehow’ working out. Rather, our hope is in the sufficiency of God’s grace to hold and strengthen us through even the worst times. Paul went so far as to say he delighted in difficulties giving him another chance to rely on God’s strength (V. 10). While I didn’t delight in my fears, I did draw courage knowing that God’s grace would be sufficient, no matter what I returned home to. His grace is still sufficient; seek the strength and courage you need DEBBI FRALICK from Him today. What’s worrying you today? Do you believe God can give you the grace for that? Father, You know the fear that grips my heart. Help me to take hold of Your promise of grace. You will provide what I need to endure. 23

o FEATURE ARTICLE

ONE MORE EGG

A few years into our marriage, Russell and I sensed a very clear leading from the Lord that he was to step out of his career and pursue full-time ministry. But things didn’t go quite as we expected . . . Having previously enjoyed being the managing director of a pharmaceutical trading company—with plenty of money, prestige and a sense of achievement—Russell found himself working on a chicken farm for minimum wage. It was a thankless, boring and unbelievably smelly job that barely paid the bills. Everything about the situation tested his patience, humility and sense of identity. The final hours of each tedious day were spent putting hundreds of eggs into dozens of crates—a mindless, irksome task. One afternoon, he snapped. Lord, He raged in his heart, I cannot do this anymore! I can’t put one more egg into one more crate—I’ve had enough! At that exact moment, his co-worker announced that he had to leave early, “You can do all my eggs too, right?” Immediately Philippians 4:13 came into Russell’s mind, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Instead of being comforted, he felt infuriated. I just told you, I can’t do this! Jesus isn’t giving me strength! The Lord’s reply was instant. Russell felt God saying, “You are proving that you are using your own strength, not Mine. Yours has run out . . . Mine is limitless.” When Russell reached the end of what he felt he could endure, God doubled his load; not to break him, but so that he could learn to rely on Jesus’ inexhaustible strength to complete the task. The Apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” to the Philippian church from the gloom of a prison cell. He didn’t

know if he was about to be executed for preaching the gospel. When he wrote that he could “do all things”, Paul wasn’t saying that God had laid out a perfect path before him, or even that he had huge reserves of God’s strength for whatever he went through. He was saying that Christ has a never-failing supply of grace to help us face the very real hardships of life. Paul had seasons of plenty and seasons where he didn’t even have enough to eat; but through Christ he learned to be content either way. He learned that he could draw on the strength of Christ moment-by-moment, during even the hardest times (VV. 11–13). We know from his other letters that Paul suffered many other things too: he was beaten with rods, stoned, imprisoned, flogged, shipwrecked, falsely accused and battled daily with a “thorn in the flesh” that God refused to take away (2 CORINTHIANS 12:7). Some of his sufferings tested him to the very end of his own strength: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-9

Paul was no stranger to suffering. Yet even from his dank, cheerless prison cell, he held onto God’s promises and encouraged the church to hope in them as well, even in the face of all manner of hardships. There may be no limit to the trials and sorrows life can throw at us; our broken world will ever be marked by sickness, suffering and grief right up until the day Jesus returns. But the even greater truth is that there is also an endless supply of God’s grace and strength available for every situation we face. That is His unfailing promise to us. There were many times during the grim chicken-farming season that we seriously wondered if we’d heard God wrong and made the biggest mistake of our lives. But looking back now, we know that the truths we learned during the difficult years were invaluable for the ups and downs of the many years of ministry that have come since then. Working a boring job wasn’t the worst thing Russell has ever suffered, but it was the event that taught him how to live moment-by-moment in the strength DEBBI FRALICK and grace that Jesus promises to all His people. 25

5-minute Bible Study: 2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3

What has God given us to allow us to live life well (VV.3-4)?

Which of the qualities listed do you wish you could experience more (VV.5-7)?

What can we experience through God’s promises (V.4)?

What do we need to contribute (V.5)?

What promises from God’s Word can you hold on to as you look to grow these things “in increasing measure” (V.8)?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your great and precious promises. Help me to build my daily life upon what You say in Your Word, so that I will keep growing in hope. Amen. WHERE NEXT? If you have time, read the whole of 2 Peter 1 to see how Peter describes the value and trustworthiness of God’s Word. A BIBLE STUDY TAKE-AWAY! Why not see if highlighting God’s role and your role in instructive passages can help you dig deeper into other New Testament letters? 26

A Prayer to Obtain God’s Promises Heavenly Father, thank You that Your Word is full of Your promises towards me; promises of peace, strength, hope and of Your presence. Help me to read the Bible looking for these assurances that I might take hold of them for myself and set my expectations by them each day. Even when I cannot see You at work, I will set my hope in Your promise that You always are. Amen

A Prayer for Strength Mighty God, ruler of heaven and earth, I reach the end of my own strength so quickly. Help me to live in Your inexhaustible grace and power. I know that with Jesus, I will be able to endure all things. May I experience the reality the Apostle Paul wrote about when He described Your people as “more than conquerors”. Even on the worst days, You will give me what I need to persevere in faith and hope. I will not be overcome by anything of this world; Your kingdom is far greater. Amen

A Prayer to Become More Christ-Like Lord God, I was created in Your image. What a precious gift! And more than that, now I have Your Spirit within me to make me more and more an image of Jesus Christ. May I become less and He more in my life. He is the hero of this story, not me. I want to be rooted in Him, the vine, so that only His fruit of love will grow. Use me as a channel of Christ; make me a light in the dark for others to see You all the more clearly. Amen

➍

IN PR AYER

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 PETER 5:7

“This should be the motto for every follower of Jesus Christ: Never stop praying, no matter how dark and hopeless it may seem.” REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM 28

o PSALM 143

DAY 10

DARK MOMENTS, DEEP PRAYERS I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. [ PSALM 143:6 ]

“I

had a dark moment.” Those five words capture the internal agony of a popular female celebrity during a difficult season of life. Adjusting to a new normal was part of her challenge, and in her turmoil, she acknowledged that she wrestled with thoughts of hopelessness and despair. Pulling out of the downward spiral included sharing her struggle with a friend who cared. We’re all susceptible to tumultuous hours, days and seasons. Valleys and hard places are familiar to all of us yet getting out of such places can be challenging. Seeking the assistance of friends is essential; turning to professionals is sometimes useful too. But there is an even greater source of hope available to all of us. In Psalm 143, we read and are instructed by David’s prayer during one of the dark times of his life. The exact situation is unknown, but his prayers to God are honest and hope-filled. “My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralysed with fear” (VV. 3–4). For believers in Jesus, it’s not enough to acknowledge what’s going on within us to ourselves, to our friends or to medical specialists. May we go to God (thoughts and all) with prayers that include the earnest requests found in verses 7–10. Our dark moments can also be times for deep prayers—seeking the light and life only God can bring. ARTHUR JACKSON In the midst of your darkest moments, how do you typically respond? Why is it difficult to be honest about your struggles to yourself, others, and God? Father, please renew my strength and hope in You. When dark moments invade my life internally or externally and threaten to bring me low, help me to come to You in prayer. 29

o LUKE 11:5–13

DAY 11

ASKING AND RECEIVING If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. [ LUKE 11:13 ]

or four years, Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, couldn’t hear God or sense His presence. Through those long days and nights he continued to obey and honour God, yet he felt dry and sad. Then he decided to claim Jesus’ promise that if even those who are evil give good gifts to their children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (LUKE 11:13). Afterwards he felt no shift in his soul. But after talking with a trusted mentor, he realised that he had been seeking to hold God’s power rather than entrusting God to work through him. When he relinquished his all before his Maker, his heart was filled to overflowing with God’s love. The spiritual winter ceased. We won’t all go through a dark night of the soul in this way, but this story illustrates how God reveals Himself to His people through the Holy Spirit, as Jesus told His disciples when teaching them how to pray. Jesus encouraged them to seek and to ask (V. 9)—even with “shameless audacity” (V. 8)—and then to trust that God would answer their prayer. When we’re enduring a low season like Oswald Chambers did, we can ask God for the continuing gift of His Spirit. We welcome His response, knowing that our heavenly Father gives only good gifts to AMY BOUCHER PYE His children. When you don’t sense God’s presence, how do you respond? What “good gifts” might God be inviting you to ask Him for? Loving God, thank You for Your generosity and grace in giving me so many amazing gifts—not least Your Son, Jesus. Keep me ever thankful.

o MAT THEW 6:5–13

DAY 12

OUR FATHER This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father . . .” [ MATTHEW 6:9 ]

ost mornings I recite the Lord’s Prayer. I’m not prepared for the new day until I’ve grounded myself in those words. Recently I’d said only the first two words—“Our Father”— when my phone rang. It startled me as it was 5:43 a.m. Guess who? The phone display read “Dad.” Before I had a chance to answer, the call quickly ended. I guessed my dad had called by mistake. Sure enough, he had. Random coincidence? Maybe, but I believe we live in a world awash in the mercy of God. That particular day I needed that reassurance of our Father’s presence. Think about that for a minute. Of all the ways Jesus could have taught His disciples to begin their prayers, He chose those two words—“Our Father” (MATTHEW 6:9) as the starting point. Random? No, Jesus was never less than intentional with His words. We all have different relationships with our earthly fathers—some good, some far less than that. However, praying in the way we should is not addressing “my” father or “your” father, but “our” Father, the One who sees us and hears us, and who knows what we need before we even ask Him (V. 8). What an amazing reassurance, especially on those days when we might feel forgotten, alone, abandoned or simply just not worth much. Remember, regardless of where we are and what time of day or night JOHN BLASE it might be, our Father in heaven is always near. What does it mean to you that you can pray, “Our Father”? How can you ground yourself in that truth at the start of each new day? Father, thank You for Your promise to hear me when I pray, regardless of where I may be. 31

o FEATURE ARTICLE

FINDING HOPE AND GRACE

n one year, Horatio Spafford lost his four-year-old son and his financial livelihood. A few years later, he planned to participate in an outreach in London and sent his wife and four daughters ahead by sea to get settled while he tied up business matters at home. The ship struck another vessel, and all four of his daughters drowned. Only his wife survived. On his own Atlantic crossing, as he passed the place his daughters died, Horatio penned the words to the classic hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.” How could he write such a thing? The lyrics to Horatio’s hymn reveal that he learned to lean on a hope larger than himself—a relationship with Jesus—and discovered peace in his soul even in the midst of his tremendous grief. How could he be at peace while still feeling the emotions of sadness, loneliness, weariness and perhaps even anger? Like many biblical figures before him, Horatio shared his raw emotions and excruciating pain with his heavenly Father. The Bible is full of feelings. Hannah “was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord” (1 SAMUEL 1:10). David bared his uncensored heart to God in psalm after psalm (PSALM 22:14–15). Elijah experienced pits of depression (1 KINGS 19). Jeremiah wept before God (JEREMIAH 8:20–9:1). In the garden of Gethsemane, the night before He went to the cross, Jesus dared to feel before His Father. Matthew 26:37–38 tells us He

was “anguished and distressed. . . . [He was] crushed with grief to the point of death.” Our God loves Is it okay to express strong feelings of sadness, anger, frustration and envy to God? Yes, us dearly; He is it is! Our God loves us dearly; He is ready to ready to provide provide the hope and grace we need. Hannah prayed for a child and trusted God the hope and to hear her prayer. David cried to God while grace we need. simultaneously saluting His power, faithfulness and love. Elijah and Jeremiah both received God’s comfort when they were down and troubled. And Jesus yielded to His Father’s will, saying, “I want your will to be done, not mine,” and He was strengthened by an angel (LUKE 22:42–44). Feelings inform. Like indicators on a car’s dashboard, they reveal what’s happening within. When we pay attention, feelings can reveal our human need, and when we couple them with faith that our God will help us, heartfelt prayers can lead us to hope. Sometimes we may try to hide our low seasons from others, from ourselves and even from God. But when we become honest about how we’re doing, our emotions help us to learn more about ourselves and about God’s care for us. He invites us to bring these feelings to Him and ask Him to help. It’s in relationship with Him that we experience the unending connection we crave. Hope for today so often begins by telling God what’s going on—and entrusting it all to Him. Since He already knows your feelings, there’s no need to fear surprising Him. He loves you! He’s waiting for you to respond to His love. This might come as we rest in His Word, interact with other believers in Jesus, as we worship, appreciate His creation and, crucially, as we open our hearts in prayer. Our mental wellbeing can take tough hits absolutely any time, leaving us feeling confused and unstable. Yet hope grows out of an ongoing relationship with the God who knows us intimately and suffered on a cross to make sure we’ll never be left alone in our pain. Today He invites us to express our emotions in our prayers, opening our hearts to His peace and healing. ELISA MORGAN

5 Verses to Inspire Your Prayers

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” PSALM 18:6

“The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” PSALM 33:18

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” ROMANS 8:26

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 JOHN 5:14

A Prayer of Surrender Lord God, how I need You. I know I wasn’t made to do life alone but in relationship with You. Thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus, on the cross so I can be reconciled to You as Your child. Forgive me for my waywardness. Come lead me into the future. I give You every area of my life. Take over for me and help me to follow You and Your ways. Amen

A Prayer of Vulnerability Father, no matter what burdens I am carrying or how I am feeling, I can trust that You will not only listen, but that You will also be faithful and righteous as You answer. I come before You now, just as I am, with my every weight and worry. Merciful God, I know You are big enough to carry it all with me and to heal my heart. Walk with me through this time of uncertainty and keep my eyes on You. I entrust everything to You in hope; for You will provide for me and sustain me according to Your wonderful purposes. Amen

A Prayer for Transformation Heavenly Father, how I long to break free from weariness, from despondency, from the lowness that creeps into so many of my days. I open my heart to You, Lord. Break through with the peace of Your presence. Transform me, even within my troubles. Fill me up with the love Jesus has for me, so that I overflow with the joy that can only come from being close to You. I need You today. Come Lord, come. In Jesus’ name. Amen

➎

IN THE FUTURE

“In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” 2 PETER 3:13

“Let us be alert to the season in which we are living. It is the season of the Blessed Hope, calling for us to cut our ties with the world and build ourselves on this One who will soon appear. He is our hope—a Blessed Hope enabling us to rise above our times and fix our gaze upon Him.” A. W. TOZER 36

o PSALM 22:1–5

DAY 13

WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? [ PSALM 22:1 ]

n just six months, Gerald’s life fell apart. An economic crisis destroyed his business and wealth, while a tragic accident took his son’s life. Overcome by shock, his mother had a heart attack and died, his wife went into depression, and his two young daughters remained inconsolable. All he could do was echo the words of the psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (PSALM 22:1). The only thing that kept Gerald going was the hope that God, who raised Jesus to life, would one day deliver him and his family from their pain to an eternal life of joy. It was a hope that God would answer his desperate cries for help. In his despair, like the psalmist David, he determined to trust God in the midst of his suffering. He held on to the hope that God would deliver and save him (VV. 4–5). That hope sustained Gerald. Over the years, whenever he was asked how he was, he could only say, “I’m trusting God.” God honoured that trust, giving Gerald the comfort, strength and courage to keep him going through the years. His family slowly recovered from the crisis, and soon Gerald welcomed the birth of his first grandchild. His cry is now a testimony of God’s faithfulness. “I’m no longer asking, ‘Why have you forsaken me?’ God has blessed me.” When it seems there’s nothing left, there is still hope. LESLIE KOH What will help you to remember and cling to God’s sure and certain hope of deliverance? How has trusting in God sustained you in a difficult challenge? Father, whenever I feel abandoned and alone, I cling to the hope You’ve given me through Christ’s resurrection that I will be delivered to eternal joy one day. 37

o 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35–44

DAY 14

RISING TO DANCE The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable. [ 1 CORINTHIANS 15:42 ]

n a widely shared video, an elegant elderly woman sits in a wheelchair. Once a famed ballet dancer, Marta González Saldaña now suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. But something magical happens when Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is played to her. As the music builds, her frail hands slowly rise; and as the first trumpets blast, she starts performing from her chair. Though her mind and body are perishing, her talent is still there. Reflecting on that video, my thoughts went to Paul’s teaching on resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. Likening our bodies to a seed that is buried before it sprouts into a plant, he says that though our bodies may perish through age or illness, may be a source of dishonour and may be wracked with weakness, the bodies of believers will be raised imperishable, full of glory and power (VV. 42–44). Just as there is an organic link between the seed and the plant, we will be ‘us’ after our resurrection, our personalities and talents intact, but we will flourish like never before. When the haunting melody of Swan Lake began to play, Marta at first looked downcast, perhaps mindful of what she once was and could no longer do. But then a man reached over and held her hand. And so it will be for us. Trumpets will blast (V. 52), a hand will reach SHERIDAN VOYSEY out and we’ll rise to dance like never before. What do you look forward to being able to do after the resurrection? How can this give you hope for loved ones suffering the effects of age? I praise You, Jesus, that nothing will be lost, but only regained, in the future.

o ISAIAH 25:1–9

DAY 15

SWEET AGAIN On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples. [ ISAIAH 25:6 ]

ussian wedding customs are filled with beauty and significance. One such custom takes place during the reception as the toastmaster proposes a toast in honour of the couple. Everyone takes a sip from their raised glass and then shouts, “Gor’ko! Gor’ko!” meaning “Bitter! Bitter!” When the guests shout that word, the newlyweds must rise and kiss each other in order to make the drink sweet again. Isaiah prophesies that the bitter drink of desolation, ruin and the curse upon the earth (ISAIAH 24) will give way to the sweet hope of a new heaven and new earth (ISAIAH 25). God will prepare a feast of rich foods and the finest and sweetest of drinks. It will be a banquet of continual blessing, fruitfulness and provision for all people (25:6). There’s more. Under the sovereign reign of the righteous King, death is swallowed up, bitter tears are wiped away and the shroud of disgrace is removed (VV. 7–8). And His people will rejoice because the One they trusted in and waited for will bring salvation and turn the bitter cup of life sweet again (V. 9). One day, we’ll be together with Jesus at the wedding supper of the Lamb. When He welcomes His bride (the church) home, the promise of Isaiah 25 will be fulfilled. The life once bitter will be made sweet MARVIN WILLIAMS again. What makes you long for God to make what is bitter sweet again? While we wait for Jesus’ return, what are some things you can do to make others’ bitter experience sweet again? God, as I witness and experience so much pain, suffering, ruin and death, sometimes, it’s difficult to believe You’ll make what is bitter sweet again. Help me to put my hope in You, the One who’s promised to give me beauty for ashes and joy for mourning. 39

o FEATURE ARTICLE

THE LAND OF FAR DISTANCES

my Carmichael (1867–1951) was an Irish missionary known for rescuing girls in India who had been sold into a form of slavery within various temples. She set up an orphanage where they could be safe, have an education and learn about the love of Christ. Despite frequent danger and often being bedridden with crippling aches and pains, she served in this way for fifty-five years. In the midst of this exhausting work, there were times she called “moments of vision.” In her book Gold by Moonlight, she wrote, “In the midst of a crowded day we are given almost a glimpse of ‘the land of far distances,’ and we stand still, arrested on the road.” The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time when God’s rebellious people would turn back to Him. “Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar” (ISAIAH 33:17). To view this “land of far distances” is to be lifted above the circumstances of the immediate present and to gain an eternal perspective. During difficult times, the Lord enables us to see our lives from His viewpoint and regain hope. “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us” (V. 22). Each day, we have the choice to look down in discouragement or to lift our eyes to “the land of far distances,” to the Lord who is “our Mighty One” (V. 21). But some days this choice is harder to make than others. Some days just drag us down, and the pressing needs and demands force our attention away from the eternal. It doesn’t take much before the ordinary obscures our view of the extraordinary. Yet Jesus told His followers that His world-changing return will take

place on an ordinary day. People will be going about their usual routines: eating, sleeping, working, doing the laundry, making plans for the school holidays, trying to make today better than yesterday . . . (MATTHEW 24:36–39). The Lord’s purpose in saying this was to urge the disciples, and us, to be watchful for the land of far distances, just as Amy Carmichael later modelled in India. We can hold on to our hope of Jesus’ return, and the wonderful kingdom He will bring, even in the daily grind. Anticipating Jesus’ return on an ordinary day lifts our eyes back up to the extraordinary. The book of Revelation, devoted to describing Jesus’ return, does so with a sense of immediacy. Rather than saying, “Someday, in the distant future, Jesus Christ is going to return to earth,” the text is filled with phrases like “things which must shortly take place” and “the time is near”. Three times in the final chapter, the Lord says, “I am coming soon” (REVELATION 22:7,12,20). Other versions translate this phrase as, “I’m coming speedily” and “I’m on my way!” As 2,000 years have now come and gone, “soon” doesn’t sound like an appropriate word! Perhaps we can understand this statement to be less about speed and more about the certainty of Jesus’ return. In other words, Jesus’ second coming is not pending, but active—right now. He is coming. The end of the story has already been written; and it’s already in motion. Each day, no matter what it holds, or how uninspiring it may seem, ultimately brings us one day closer to the land of far distances. If the end of the story has been written—and written in victory—then we can be sure that nothing we experience today can change the last pages of God’s Word. Amy Carmichael spent more than fifty years—burdened by dangers and pain—helping young women in great need. How did she do it? “There is always something to be happy about if we look for it,” she wrote. “Two men looked through prison bars. The one saw mud, the other stars.” Each day she fixed her eyes not on her challenges, but on Jesus, placing her hope upon the future His Word describes. And so can we. Let’s take time today to ask Jesus for a “moment of vision” of His coming kingdom, that we might “stand still, arrested on the road.” DAVID MCCASLAND

Adapted from the Our Daily Bread articles: “The Land of Far Distances”, “An Ordinary Day” and “Coming Soon”

Jesus’ Return Gives Us Hope When We face . . .

Suffering: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 CORINTHIANS 4:17). No suffering is pleasant or “light” at the time. But our hope in such seasons lies in remembering that, even now, Jesus prepares a room for each of us in His kingdom. The future glory Jesus is bringing will by far outweigh even our worst times on earth.

Injustice: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 PETER 2:23). Seeing people get away with mistreating others really cuts us to the heart. Our hope when this happens is that Jesus fully understands, having suffered injustice Himself—and He will judge justly. When He returns, all wrongs will be righted; “With justice he judges and wages war” (REVELATION 19:11).

Sickness: “[We] groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (ROMANS 8:23). Whether in mind or body, all of us know what it is to feel fragile and vulnerable. Some live with chronic pain. Others must continually work hard to manage their mental wellbeing. But one day, we will receive perfect bodies, free from sin and sickness; one day we will experience life just as we were always meant to.

Grief: “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (REVELATION 21:4). We live in a world marked by death and decay. Whenever we walk the road of broken-heartedness, we can set our hope on the promise that God is close to us, also yearning for the day when He Himself will wipe the tears from our eyes and welcome us into His eternal home where “the old order of things has passed away.”

A Messed-Up World: “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 PETER 3:12). Sometimes we just know life isn’t right. It hurts too much. When Jesus returns, He will bring a new heaven and earth, so we can live in a world restored to all the goodness of God’s original creation. We can look forward in hope; our best days are still to come.

Doubts: “This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement” (1 JOHN 4:17). A life of faith is not easy; it comes with questions and confusion. Nevertheless, it is also a life of growing confidence—of growing hope—because it is based in the unchanging love of Jesus. Even within our questions, in His love we find the grace and assurance we need. Jesus has saved us from judgement. For us, His return is the very best news.

A Prayer for “Moments of Vision” Heavenly Father, lift my eyes from the ordinary today. Give me a glimpse of heaven—whether in Your Word, through the kindness of a friend, or in the beauty of the sunset—show me how good it will be to live in Your kingdom, in Your presence. Make today exciting simply because I know it brings me one day closer to seeing the face of Jesus. Amen

A Prayer for Those Who Don’t Yet Know Jesus Lord God, I lift to You my friends, family, co-workers and others who still don’t know Jesus as their Saviour. Break through to their hearts while there is still time for them to repent. May they realise that we are living in a window of mercy, a time when Your infinite grace can still be found to cover all sin and transform their lives. Help me to be a good witness of Your love; make me sensitive to the opportunities You provide for me to share my faith; and give me a willing and brave spirit to speak. Amen

A Prayer for God’s Kingdom to Come Lord Jesus, when the days are hard and I feel low, I long for You to return and bring me home. I am so thankful that You are preparing me a room, and that You have promised to come and get me. I am in awe of all that You have done and are doing for me. I am eager for Your return Jesus; keep me fired up for Your kingdom. Don’t let the ordinary cloud my view of the eternal. Come, Lord Jesus, come! Amen 44

held by hope

What do you do when you are feeling low? Do you feel guilty? Try to carry on like everything is fine? Withdraw and hide yourself away? The Bible never rebukes us for sometimes wanting to hide; but it does teach us to hide in the right place. The Apostle Paul writes: “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Jesus knows what it is to suffer sorrow and pain in this world. He really does get it. And so, He is our true refuge who can carry our burdens, walk the road beside us and fill our hearts with hope. Our prayer is that this collection of Our Daily Bread articles and prayers will reignite your heart with the hope of Jesus; the certain hope which holds us through every high and low. While life’s journey on earth twists and turns, Jesus assures us of God’s comforting presence, even on our darkest days. For information on our resources, visit odb.org Alternatively, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices. Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 64 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XC62 ireland@odb.org ~ +3531 (01) 676 7315 UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149 Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

YP863