Hope in Hard Times

hope in timeshard

Reflections From

PSALM 57:1

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

hope in timeshard

Reflections from

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hope in hard times

It was quite a month for our family. First, my wife had emergency surgery that left her battling poison in her system. Then, our daughter had a difficult surgery. Just a few days later, our grandson was hospitalised with pneumonia and bronchitis. It was a challenging time of frustration and reversals. But it was much more than that.

As a minister, I’ve spent hundreds of hours visiting people in the hospital. Sometimes I was there to celebrate a baby’s birth, but most of the time my hospital visits were more necessary than joyful. When we’re hurting, we need help. We need prayer. We need encouragement.

Now, as never before, our family was in need of that encouragement—and others came through for us. People brought meals and wrote cards. Pastors called. Hospital staff were kind and encouraging. It was humbling and thrilling to be on the receiving end of such compassion, in part because we needed it so very much.

Times of pain and illness show us how vulnerable we are. Our struggles intensify. Strength is lost. Even the most caring friends or loved ones can’t help. Our dependency is bigger than us—but not bigger than God.

The Bible says many things about our heavenly Father, but trouble reveals that He is the very present help we desperately need. He is more than enough to compensate for our inadequacy, and His faithfulness provides new mercies every morning. Statements of His care for us become more than religious words. God’s Word is the lifeline of hope and trust.

ROMANS 15:13

This special edition is dedicated to those who are hurting and those who care for the hurting. These Our Daily Bread articles are a reminder that God gives strength to the weak and hope to the desperate. God meets us where we are, welcomes us into His arms and helps us with our needs.

He is with you; so you are never alone. He walks every path of pain. Our prayer is that these readings and reflections will help you cry out to Your Father and cling to Him in real, daily hope.

“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). This God of hope is present—even now. May His strength comfort you and those you love in challenging times.

Bill Crowder, Our Daily Bread contributor

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.

11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.

12 In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. 13 You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.

14 With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding. 15 You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.

16

I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

“

Hope that Holds

I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. [ HABAKKUK 3:18 ]

Iknow Daddy’s coming home because he sent me flowers.” Those were my seven-year-old sister’s words to our mother when Dad was missing in action during wartime. Before Dad left for his mission, he pre-ordered flowers for my sister’s birthday, and they arrived while he was missing. But she was right: Dad did come home—after a harrowing combat situation. And decades later she still keeps the vase that held the flowers as a reminder to always hold on to hope.

Sometimes holding on to hope isn’t easy in a broken, sinful world. Daddies don’t always come home, and children’s wishes sometimes go unfulfilled. But God gives hope in the most difficult circumstances. In another time of war, the prophet Habakkuk predicted the Babylonian invasion of Judah (HABAKKUK 1:6; SEE 2 KINGS 24) but still affirmed that God is always good (HABAKKUK 1:12–13). Remembering God’s kindness to His people in the past, Habakkuk proclaimed: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour” (3:17–18).

Some commentators believe Habakkuk’s name means “to cling”. We can cling to God as our ultimate hope and joy even in trials because He holds on to us and will never let go. JAMES BANKS

REFLECT: How does rejoicing in God help you in difficult times? What can you do to praise Him today?

PRAY: Father, thank You that come what may, my future is bright with You!

HABAKKUK 3:18

I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in od my Saviour.

6 Promises of God’s Presence

1

I will fear no evil, for you are with me. PSALM 23:4

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. PSALM 46:1 3

2

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. PSALM 139:5 4

Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. MATTHEW 28:20

5

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” JOHN 14:23

6

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” HEBREWS 13:5

9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’

11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, ‘Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.’

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bow-shot away, for she thought, ‘I cannot watch the boy die.’ And as she sat there, she began to sob.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, ‘What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.’

19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

All Alone?

God heard the boy crying. [ GENESIS 21:17 ]

Sue’s family was falling apart before her eyes. Her husband had suddenly left their home, and she and her children were confused and angry. She asked him to go for marriage counselling with her, but he wouldn’t because he claimed the problems were hers. Panic and hopelessness set in when she realised he might never come back. Would she be able to care for herself and her children alone?

Hagar, a servant of Abraham and Sarah, faced those thoughts as well. Impatient for God to give them a son as promised (GENESIS 12, 15), Sarah gave Hagar to her husband, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael (16:1–4, 15). However, when God fulfilled His promise and Sarah gave birth to Isaac, family tensions erupted and Abraham sent Hagar away with their son Ishmael with just some water and food (21:8–21). Can you imagine her desperation? Soon they ran out of provisions in the desert. Not knowing what to do and not wanting to see her son die, Hagar put Ishmael under a bush and walked a distance away. They both began to sob. But “God heard the boy crying” (V. 17). He heard their cries, provided for their needs and was with them.

Times of desperation when we feel all alone cause us to cry out to God. What a comfort to know that during those moments and throughout our lives, He hears us, provides for us and stays near to us.

ANNE CETAS

REFLECT: How has God provided for you when you’ve felt alone? How have you responded to Him?

PRAY: I’m grateful, God, that I never really walk alone. Help me in my desperation.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.

A Prayer for the Lonely

Heavenly Father, how good it is to know You have made me Your child. I can rest with You any day or night, experiencing Your deep grace and compassion. Lord, You know the lonely ache I feel in my heart. So I pray Your Word back to You today, putting my hope in Your promise to never leave or forsake me. Surround me with Your love. Hem me in with Your wonderful presence. May I feel how close You are.

Please also bless me with brothers and sisters in Christ who will bring wisdom, kindness and grace into my life. You have made me for community, so I ask that You would provide. I put my trust in You to meet my needs according to Your way and timing. My life and my heart are in Your hands, O Lord. Amen

2 The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. 3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire – they all conspire together. 4 The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. 5 Do not trust a neighbour; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. 6 For a son dishonours his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.

Choosing Hope

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord. [ MICAH 7:7 ]

Iam one of millions of people worldwide who suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a type of depression common in places with limited sunlight due to short winter days. When I begin to fear winter’s frozen curse will never end, I’m eager for any evidence that longer days and warmer temperatures are coming. The first signs of spring—flowers successfully braving their way through the lingering snow—also powerfully remind me of the way God’s hope can break through even our darkest seasons. The prophet Micah confessed this even while enduring a heart-rending ‘winter’ as the Israelites turned away from God. As Micah assessed the bleak situation, he lamented that “not one upright person” seemed to remain (MICAH 7:2). Yet, even though the situation appeared dire, the prophet refused to give up hope. He trusted that God was at work (V. 7)—even if, amid the devastation, he couldn’t yet see the evidence.

In our dark and sometimes seemingly endless ‘winters’, when spring doesn’t appear to be breaking through, we face the same struggle as Micah. Will we give into despair? Or will we “watch in hope for the Lord”? (V. 7). Our hope in God is never wasted. He’s bringing a time with no more ‘winter’: a time with no more mourning or pain (REVELATION 21:4). Until then, may we rest in Him, confessing, “My hope is in you” (PSALM 39:7).

LISA M. SAMRA

REFLECT: Where do you find hope in dark times? In what ‘winter’ season has God given you the hope you needed?

PRAY: Heavenly Father, during difficult seasons of life, it’s easy for me to be discouraged; in those hard times, help me place my hope in You. And in every season of my life, help me share with others the peace found in life with You.

As for me, I watch in hope for the Lord.

7:7

MICAH

5-Minute Bible Study: Psalm 23

A psalm of David

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

FOR REFLECTION:

1

Who are the two main characters in the Psalm?

2 List all the places mentioned and think about the sort of places they relate to in your life.

3 What does the Shepherd do for the psalm-writer in each place?

4 List each of the benefits of having the Lord as your Shepherd.

5 Is the Lord your Shepherd? Do you know Him in this way in your life?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your constant care in my life. Help me to love and trust You more in every situation. Amen.

1 Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 “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.’

5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’

6 He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Heaven is Near

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” [ REVELATION 21:3 ]

I’ll never forget what one of my older friends said when her son died unexpectedly: “Heaven seems nearer.” In her sadness over losing her son she sought God’s perspective and comfort, and in doing so she sensed the distance lessen between God’s kingdom on earth and His kingdom in heaven.

We learn about God’s new kingdom through the visions that John received and recorded in the book of Revelation. We may find the imagery and allusions hard to understand, but the early church would not have found it as jarring because of their familiarity with the Old Testament books of Ezekiel and Daniel. As we read in Revelation, John saw “the first heaven and the first earth” disappear (REVELATION 21:1) and understood that God was making his dwelling-place with His people (V. 3). Not only will He wipe away our tears but He’ll remove the spectre of death and pain and sorrow and crying all together (V. 4). We will be filled with joy beyond measure as we live in His presence, worshipping Him and enjoying full communion with our neighbours. My older friend’s remark feels poignant now, for she died several years ago. Although I miss her, I find hope in her example of turning to God and seeking His perspective. When I imagine her singing to her heart’s content in God’s presence in the new kingdom, I reflect with a smile that heaven seems nearer.

AMY BOUCHER PYE

REFLECT: How can you keep the hope of heaven near to you today? Why do you think it important to do so?

PRAY: Creator God, You formed the heavens and the earth and You continue to redeem them and make them new. Help me trust You for all that You have for me.

od’s dwelling-place

“Look!

is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”

6 Comforting Visions of the Future for God’s People

1My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

JOHN 14:2–3

2 Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

3

PHILIPPIANS 3:20–21

The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16–17

4

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

REVELATION 5:13

5

REVELATION 21:3–4 6

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them . . . ‘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.”

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. REVELATION 22:5

8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. 9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favour on your anointed one.

10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose way of life is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Our Sun and Shield

The Lord God is a sun and shield; . . . no good thing does he withhold from those whose way of life is blameless.

[ PSALM 84:11 ]

Her life was slipping away. He sat quietly and simply read to her from the comforting truth of God’s Word. Then the Lord gently spoke to his heart through the promise: “No good thing does he withhold from those whose way of life is blameless” (PSALM 84:11). Reflecting later on that painful yet precious moment, George Müller (1805–1898)—understanding he was “blameless” by faith—said to himself, “If it is really good for me, my darling wife will be raised up again, sick as she is. God will restore her again. But if she is not restored again, then it would not be a good thing for me. And so my heart was at rest. I was satisfied with God.” We’ve all experienced loss, whether the passing of loved ones or the changing of the seasons. Sometimes such moments make us question God’s goodness. Yet the psalmist reminds us that “the Lord God is a sun and shield” (V. 11). As our sun, He brings life and growth to the good things He gives us; as our shield, He protects and guards us when we face heartache in this world of sad goodbyes. Through tears, Müller put his faith in the Lord to define what would be truly good during that heart-breaking season of his life. No good thing will be withheld from us today either; for “blessed is the one who trusts in [God]” to be their sun and their shield (V. 12).

CHRIS WALE

REFLECT: When has God’s goodness satisfied you in difficult seasons? How can you seek the blessings He has for you in your current situation?

PRAY: Lord God, You are my sun and my shield. I trust that You will provide what is truly good for me today.

The Lord od is a sun and shield.

PSALM 84:11

3 Ways to Go Deeper with God

1

Make time for God: It’s hard to form a meaningful relationship ‘in passing’. Quality time is always the hallmark of deepening intimacy. It’s the same with God. He is with us when we’re on the go; but it is also essential to have times where we simply rest in His presence and take our time listening to His voice in His Word. He invites us to “be still, and know that I am God” (PSALM 46:10). Where is your quiet place you can go to be alone with the Lord?

2

Let Jesus be your home: How do you know you don’t live at your friend’s house, or the supermarket, or at your workplace? Because home is where you go back to once you’ve finished visiting or attending these other places. Home is meant to be the place where you can be yourself and relax. This is how Jesus asks us to see Him: “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (JOHN 15:5). To “remain” in Jesus means to “stay close” or “make your home here”. Is Jesus your home, or just Someone you visit?

3

Give Him your heart: There are so many demands on our time and needs in our lives. Jesus knows this—but rather than trying to fulfil every desire and fix every problem ourselves, He says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (MATTHEW 6:33). It’s hard to grow close to God if our focus is on getting by in this world each day. What is your heart set on: getting more of God or getting more of what this world offers?

1 But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Fear Not

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. [ ISAIAH 43:1 ]

My wife became seriously ill during her pregnancy with our second child. As the doctors struggled to find the problem, she continued to grow weaker—dangerously so.

Watching her suffer was a helpless and horrible feeling for me, and there were days when it felt as if God were not hearing our prayers. One Sunday, while I was looking for comfort from Scripture, my eyes landed on the first verse in Isaiah 43.

“Do not fear” it begins, and ends with “you are mine”. Instantly, the Holy Spirit made the words personal. The intimate way God addresses Israel reminded me of His always-present attention to us too: “When you pass through the waters . . . through the rivers . . . through the fire” (V. 2). Each phrase rose up in crescendo, from the pages to my heart.

Our comfort in that hour came not from promises of healing or miracles, but from knowing we were never alone. We had many other frightening times, including just after Ethan’s birth, when it looked as if both he and Cheryl would be lost. But God had used His words to comfort us and prepare us for those harder moments. Let these words be a reminder to you that you are never alone.

RANDY KILGORE

REFLECT: What comfort do you find in the Lord’s promise: “you are mine”? How can you seek comfort in who He is, even when your circumstances don’t change?

PRAY: God of all comfort, thank You for claiming me as Your own. Please be close to me in my trials and give me the reassurance of Your love and faithfulness.

I have summoned you by name;

you are mine.

A Prayer for Those Who Are Afraid

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your love that is beyond all I can think, ask or imagine. I praise You for Your tender mercies, which are new every morning. I rest in Your all-sufficient grace which You show me hour by hour; moment by moment.

You know what overwhelms me in my life; You know when I feel anxious and afraid. So I come to You now, to know Your love, mercy and peace; and to find the strength to stand tall. For I belong to the risen King; the Lord Jesus. I choose to give Him all my fears and all of my troubling thoughts; I put them into His strong, loving hands. For His name’s sake, Amen.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

A Strange Comfort

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

[ PSALM 23:4 ]

“

Arod and a staff—they feel like a strange comfort. Consider sheep in a dark valley surrounded by predators, and their only encouragement being the push of a rod or the wrench of a staff. It’s a comfort ultimately, but at the time it may not feel like it.” As a friend and I discussed Psalm 23, we addressed an often overlooked part of it. How, I wondered, can we find comfort in these images of correction?

King David, having grown up a shepherd boy, knew the tools of the trade. In the ancient near East, shepherds would carry a rod to keep the sheep safe from predators and to discipline them when they went astray. The staff is a more gentle tool with its distinctive hook. It can be used to place a new-born lamb into its mother’s lap or it can guide a sheep in a new direction.

How might God might use these instruments with us? When we feel anxious, we may experience a sort of rescue, like the Shepherd’s crook that pulls the sheep up to high ground. If we act out in irritation or selfishness, we might sense the loving discipline of the Shepherd. We will not find ourselves ostracised, but nestled among His flock. We can trust our Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep and who knows them by name.

AMY BOUCHER PYE

REFLECT: When have you sensed God using His rod and staff in your life? How do you react to loving correction?

PRAY: Saving Jesus, keep me from going astray, and help me to share the message of Your saving grace with others.

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Prayer for Comfort

Lord Jesus, our God of all comfort who comforts me in all my trouble, bless me today with the peace of Your presence. I thank You that You truly know my every pain and the ache of my heart in these difficult days.

You experienced poverty, hardship, suffering, rejection and death while You walked the earth. You are my compassionate High Priest who feels real sympathy for my weakness; who will never leave or forsake me. I know I can trust my every burden to You.

Good Shepherd, carry me, Your wearied lamb, through the darkness of this valley. Comfort me with the steady beat of Your good heart and settle me with whispers of Your eternal love. Amen.

1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, “My own strength has saved me.” 3 Now announce to the army, “Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.”’ So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

4 But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, “This one shall go with you,” he shall go; but if I say, “This one shall not go with you,” he shall not go.’

5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, ‘Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.’

6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

7 The Lord said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.’ 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.

Strength in Weakness

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men.”

[ JUDGES 7:2 ]

When my son was nearly three, I needed an operation that would require a month or more of recovery. Prior to the procedure, I imagined myself in bed while stacks of dirty dishes accumulated in the sink. I wasn’t sure how I’d take care of an active toddler and couldn’t picture myself standing in front of the stove to cook our meals. I dreaded the impact my weakness would have on the rhythm of our lives.

God intentionally weakened Gideon’s forces before his troops confronted the Midianites. Firstly, those who were afraid were allowed to leave—twenty-two thousand men went home (JUDGES 7:3). Then, of the ten thousand who remained, only those who scooped water into their hands to drink could stay. Just three hundred men were left, but this disadvantage prevented the Israelites from relying on themselves (VV. 5–6). They couldn’t say, “My own strength has saved me” (V. 2).

Many of us experience times when we feel drained and powerless. When this happened to me, I realised how much I needed God. He encouraged me inwardly through His Spirit and outwardly through the helpfulness of friends and family. I had to let go of my independence for a while, but this taught me how to lean more fully on God. Because “[His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9), we can have hope when we can’t meet our needs on our own.

JENNIFER BENSON SCHULDT

REFLECT: How have you experienced God’s power made perfect in your weakness? How could you help someone else who’s experiencing weakness?

PRAY: Dear God, help me to depend on You more and more each day.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

6 Verses About God’s Strength

1

The joy of the Lord is your strength. NEHEMIAH 8:10

2

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. PSALM 18:32

3

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. PSALM 29:11

4

He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. ISAIAH 40:26

5

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. EPHESIANS 6:10

6

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. PHILIPPIANS 4:13

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but 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.

Running on Empty

They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. [ ISAIAH 40:31 ]

Ijust don’t think I can do this anymore,” my friend said through her tears as she discussed the overwhelming sense of hopelessness she faced as a nurse in a global health crisis. “I know that God has called me to nursing, but I’m overwhelmed and emotionally drained,” she confessed. Seeing that a cloud of exhaustion had come over her, I responded, “I know you feel helpless right now, but ask God to give you the direction you’re seeking and the strength to persevere.” At that moment, she decided to intentionally seek God through prayer. Soon after, my friend was invigorated with a new sense of purpose. Not only was she emboldened to continue nursing, but God also gave her the strength to serve even more people by travelling to hospitals around the country.

As believers in Jesus, we can always look to God for help and encouragement when we feel overburdened because “He will not grow tired or weary” (ISAIAH 40:28). The prophet Isaiah states that our Father in heaven “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (V. 29). Though God’s strength is everlasting, He knows that we’ll inevitably have days when we’re physically and emotionally consumed (V. 30). But when we look to God for our strength instead of trying to sprint through life’s challenges alone, He’ll restore and renew us and give us the resolve to press on in faith.

KIMYA LODER

REFLECT: When have you tried to handle overwhelming situations alone? How might you look to God for help?

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for helping me when the challenges of life seem unbearable.

“

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

A Prayer for Strength

Heavenly Father, You know my struggles and weaknesses, even better than I do. I ask for Your steady hand to guide me, Your loving Spirit to shape me, and Your good presence to comfort me.

Strengthen me for these days and may Your love allow me to endure, knowing You are with me and will always speak the words I need to hear so that I will find my rest and peace in You alone.

Fill my heart with an absolute assurance of Your strength, Your care and Your willingness to look after every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sufficient race

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

My friend Martha and I were flying overseas on a missions trip. But my stress was eating me up. My husband and I had five days to figure something out before our family became homeless. Knowing my situation, Martha asked me, “What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen?”

I described the most disturbing and preposterous scenario I could envision. Her next question rocked my world: “And do you believe God could give you the grace for that?”

Martha’s questions forced me to acknowledge a life-changing truth: even if the worst happened, God would be right with me and my family to provide all we would need to persevere.

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 from Him today.

DEBBI FRALICK

REFLECT: What’s worrying you today? How could God’s grace be sufficient in that situation?

PRAY: 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.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

6 Promises About God’s Grace

1

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. JOHN 1:16

2

All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ROMANS 3:24

3

4

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

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. EPHESIANS 2:8–9

5

He has saved us and called us to a holy life— not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 TIMOTHY 1:9

6

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. HEBREWS 4:16

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbours and an object of dread to my closest friends – those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear many whispering, ‘Terror on every side!’ They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. 17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead. 18 Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. 20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. 22 In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

IS THE ONE I NEED

Secure in od’s Hands

But I trust in you, Lord; . . . My times are in your hands. [ PSALM 31:14–15 ]

It was the last thing Monica expected after thirty-three years of marriage: her husband announced he was leaving. This threatened her home, her income, her future pension and, not least, the companionship of the man she loved. His rejection sowed feelings of deep inadequacy. Devastated, she feared the loss of friends, and her new identity as a divorcee filled her with shame.

For hours Monica sat with God as her world caved in, overwhelmed by grief and stress. But God’s Word still held true: He still had a plan for her. She was not in her husband’s hands: her changing times were in God’s hands. She could trust Him for help, comfort and provision, just like David had done in Psalm 31. David felt hunted, rejected and isolated by the threats against him (VV. 4,11–13). In “soul and body” he was utterly drained by his distress (V. 9–10). But his hope was in God: his “refuge” of righteousness, deliverance and guidance (VV. 1–3). David could trust in God, despite his circumstances, because he believed his times were in God’s hands (VV. 14–15). “How abundant are the good things that [God] has stored up” for us (V. 19). As we wait for the fulfilment, we can take refuge “in the shelter of [His] presence” (V. 20). And as we affirm who God is, we are strengthened and encouraged for whatever we may face (VV. 21–24).

ANNE LE TISSIER

REFLECT: Which of Monica and David’s fears or emotions do you most identify with? How does the knowledge that God sees, cares and promises to provide help you receive His peace, strength and reassurance?

PRAY: Father, I choose to believe your promises as a reality to grasp hold of. Thank You for reassuring me that my life is in no other hands but Yours.

I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my od.”

Reflecting on the Names of Jesus

“He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (ISAIAH 9:6).

WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR: Our own judgement is often impaired by our emotions. While human counsellors, as helpful as they can be, are also limited. They don’t know the hidden places in our hearts; they don’t know the depths of our pain. How comforting to know that God Himself is available as our counsellor—One who knows our innermost thoughts and feelings, our circumstances, and what truly is best for us.

MIGHTY GOD: So often in our suffering we face situations for which we truly need an Almighty God. We face problems that are way beyond the scope of human help. We face needs that can’t be met by even the most loving friend. We need a powerful and mighty Lord, Saviour and Companion who can do the impossible. For everything for which we need a God, His might and power are sufficient.

EVERLASTING FATHER: Through this name God was communicating the amazing truth that Jesus is God in all His fullness. And God’s nature and heart is that of an Everlasting Father. He will not push you away. He will listen, love, care and provide. He can heal and comfort with more love than any of us can fathom. Go to your eternal Father in confidence in the wonderful name of His Son.

PRINCE OF PEACE: Jesus doesn’t just give peace; He is peace. As a royal Prince, peace is the hallmark of His reign. The Apostle Paul also describes peace in this way: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (COLOSSIANS 3:15) We can submit to Christ’s peace, like servants before their master. Rather than letting our fears and anxieties rule our hearts, we can choose peace—for Christ, who has secured us as part of His kingdom, is our Ruler.

8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. 9 Joshua and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love towards Israel endures for ever.’

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

Sorrow and Joy

No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping. [ EZRA 3:13 ]

Angela’s family reeled with sorrow as they experienced three bereavements in just four weeks. After the one involving the sudden death of her nephew, Angela and her two sisters gathered around the kitchen table for three days, only leaving to buy an urn, get takeout and attend the funeral. As they wept over his death, they also rejoiced over the ultrasound photos of the new life growing within their youngest sister.

In time, Angela found comfort and hope from the Old Testament book of Ezra. It describes God’s people returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonians destroyed the temple and deported them from their beloved city (SEE EZRA 1). As Ezra watched the temple being rebuilt, he heard joyful praises to God (3:10–11). But he also listened to the weeping of those who remembered life before exile (V. 12). One verse especially consoled Angela: “No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise” (V. 13). She realised that even if she was drenched in deep sorrow, joy could still appear. We too might grieve the death of a loved one or mourn a different loss. If so, we can express our cries of pain along with our moments of rejoicing to God, knowing that He hears us and gathers us in His arms.

AMY BOUCHER PYE

REFLECT: Why do you think you can experience both joy and sorrow at the same time? How can you cultivate joy today?

PRAY: Loving God, in this world we experience pain and suffering. Spark joy in me as I look to You for hope and peace.

I am the Lord your od who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Prayer for Those Who Are Grieving

Sovereign Lord, death was never meant to be a part of the world You created. It feels like the ruler who continually robs us of those we love. In my grief, I lift my eyes to Jesus. He alone sits on the throne; He has defeated sin and death; His resurrection is the victory and promise for all His people. Though I am in mourning, may I also have a heart full of hope—for death has no real power over those who trust in You; death simply opens the door for us to enter Your home. Thank You, Lord, that You stand waiting to wipe every tear from my eye. Amen

9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

IS THE ONE I NEED

Always Trustworthy

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises. [ PSALM 145:13 ]

I’m a worrier. Early mornings are the worst because I’m alone with my thoughts. So I taped this quote from Hudson Taylor on my bathroom mirror, where I can see it when I’m feeling vulnerable: “There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and will do all He has promised.”

Taylor’s words came from years of walking with God and remind us of who He is and all He can do through our times of illness, poverty, loneliness and grief. He didn’t merely know that God is trustworthy—he’d experienced His trustworthiness. And because he’d trusted God’s promises and obeyed Him, thousands of Chinese people gave their lives to Jesus.

Experiencing God and His ways helped David know that He’s trustworthy. He wrote Psalm 145, a song of praise to the God he’d experienced to be good, compassionate and faithful to all His promises. When we trust and follow God, we realise (or understand better) that He is who He says He is and that He’s faithful to His word (V. 13). And, like David, we respond by praising Him and telling others about Him (VV. 10−12). When we face worrisome times, God can help us not to falter in our walk with Him, for He is trustworthy (HEBREWS 10:23). KAREN HUANG

REFLECT: What have you been worried about lately, and which of God’s promises can you hold on to? How does knowing that Hudson Taylor’s and King David’s faith wasn’t in vain encourage you and give you hope?

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for being trustworthy and keeping Your promises to me. Please help me to remember Your faithfulness as I trust and obey You each day.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises.

PSALM 145:13

5 Reasons Jesus Gives Us

Not to Worry in Matthew 6

1

“Your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (V. 32): The most powerful antidote to worry is to take hold of the promise “Your heavenly Father knows.” God knows what we need and He is already at work to provide. What’s more, He does so not as some distant deity, but as our Father.

2

“Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (V. 25): God has taken care of our greatest need, defeating sin and redeeming us as His own children. We can trust Him to meet our other needs too.

3

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (V. 26): God’s provision is on display for us to see all around, whether for the birds of the air or the flowers of the field. We are the very pinnacle of God’s creation; His own image. It is unthinkable that God would pay such attention to birds and not to His people who can know, love and praise Him.

4

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (V. 33): Worry drives our minds away from Jesus. When we choose to sit at His feet instead and soak up His Word, we get a taste of the kingdom of God itself, where we now belong. In His presence, we are reassured that God walks with us through everything.

5

“Each day has enough trouble of its own” (V. 34): “Each day has enough trouble of its own,” but God’s mercies “are new every morning” (LAMENTATIONS 3:23). When we are filled with worry for tomorrow, we can remember that God is already there, and already providing faithfully.

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

IS THE ONE I NEED

Our Place of Refuge

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. [ PSALM 57:1 ]

It is believed that David wrote Psalm 57 while fleeing from King Saul, who had hatred in his heart for the former shepherd boy. David ducked into a cave and barely escaped his pursuer. He was safe temporarily, but the threat was still there.

We’ve all been there. Maybe not in a cave, but pursued by something that strikes fear into our hearts. Perhaps it is the deep sorrow that follows the death of someone we love. Maybe it’s the fear of an unknown future. Or it could be an oppressive physical illness that won’t go away.

In such circumstances, God does not always remove the difficulty, but He is present to help us. We wish that He would swoop in and whisk us to safety—just as David may have wished for a quick end to Saul’s pursuit. We plead with God to stop the pain and make the road to tomorrow smooth and straight. We beg Him to eliminate our struggle. But the difficulty remains. It is then that we can find a refuge in God as David did. While hiding in that cave, he said, “I take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (PSALM 57:1).

Are you in the middle of trouble? You’ll find refuge in the Most High God.

DAVE

BRANON

REFLECT: Where do you need refuge at the moment? How can you shelter under the shadow of “[God’s] wings”?

PRAY: Father, thank You for being my refuge in every trial; my rest in every worry. Help me to trust you during this season.

PSALM 57:1

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

6 Times God Is Described as Our Refuge

1

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. PSALM 18:2 2

You are my hiding-place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. PSALM 32:7 3

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. PSALM 36:7 4

You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. PSALM 61:3 5

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. NAHUM 1:7 6

Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. COLOSSIANS 3:3

The Lord Is My Shepherd

One day a young man named David was watching his sheep. The idea came to him that God was like a shepherd. He thought of the incessant care that sheep require—their helplessness and defencelessness. He recalled their foolish straying from safe paths and their constant need for a guide. He thought of the time and patience it took for them to trust him before they would follow.

He remembered the times when he led them through danger and they huddled close at his heels. He pondered the fact that he must think for his sheep, fight for them, guard them and find their pasture and quiet pools. He remembered their bruises and scratches that he bound up, and he marvelled at how frequently he had to rescue them from harm. Yet not one of his sheep was aware of how well it was watched. Yes, he mused, God is very much like a good shepherd.

A good shepherd never left his sheep alone. They would have been lost without him. His presence was their assurance. With this image in mind, David composed each line of Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Shepherd calls to us and listens for the slightest sounds of life. He hears the faintest cry or groan. When we turn to Him, He is there to greet us. For He has been there all along. “The Lord is near to all

who call on him” (PSALM 145:18). There is no deeper motivation in God than love. It is His nature to love; He can do no other, for “God is love” (1 JOHN 4:8).

Do you have some nameless grief? Some vague, sad pain? Some inexplicable ache in your heart? Come to Him who made your heart. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (MATTHEW 11:28–30).

ROMANS 10:8

As we come to our Shepherd, Psalm 23 promises we will find rest in our aches and hope in our pain. For “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” We don’t have to look very hard or very long for God. He’s only as far away as our hearts (ROMANS 10:8–9), but He will not intrude. He calls us but then waits for our answer. Our progress towards Him is determined by our desire to engage Him in a personal way—to know Him. He is with us, even in “the darkest valley”, to be known, trusted and journeyed with.

No shepherd expects his sheep to work out the best paths to travel on or to live by their own instincts. We don’t have to navigate our dark and difficult seasons alone either. “Go into your room,” Jesus said, “close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (MATTHEW 6:6). He will meet you there.

Adapted from The Lord Is My Shepherd by David Roper. Find it at discoveryseries.org/hp952.

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Prayers for Prayers of the God's Faithfulness

Before a word is on my tongue you, know it completely. PSALM 139:4

God hears us. Even before we speak. Even before we know what to say.

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hope in hard times

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