Sunday, October 18, 2026

“Well He knows what best to grant me; / All the longing hopes that haunt me, / Joy and sorrow, have their day. / I shall doubt His wisdom never; / As God wills, so be it ever; / I commit to Him my way.”

“All the longing hopes that haunt me, joy and sorrow have their day.” We know what it is to experience hope, joy, and sorrow. With longing hope we pray for better health, for the resolution of family strife, for forgiveness for our sins, and for a deeper knowledge of God’s Word. We know the joy of friends and family and worship, as well as the deep sorrow of illness, loss, and grief. All of these emotions and experiences “have their day” within our lives. The words of the hymn remind us of the wisdom of God’s Word: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven … a time to weep and a time to laugh … a time to seek and a time to lose” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4a, 6a).

In the Scriptures we find many people who knew the same hopes, joys, and sorrows. David prayed, “How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:2b). Yet the psalmist found joy in the steadfast love of God, knowing that the Lord knew best how to fulfill longing hope: “My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” (Psalm 13:5b). The people of Israel, living as exiles in a foreign land knew both longing and lost hope: “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost” (Ezekiel 37:11b). God breathed life and joy into dry bones and brought His people home. Jesus’ disciples knew joy in the presence of their Lord, only to suffer sorrow and longing hope after His death and burial. Two disciples on their way to Emmaus spoke of that longing: “We had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21a).

God knew best how to grant their longing hopes—and our own. He raised His crucified Son from death. Jesus joined those traveling disciples and in His presence doubt and despair turned into astonished joy and the need to share the good news! Our crucified and risen Savior knows the longing hopes that haunt us. He walks with us through days of joy and sorrow. We can trust our Lord to know what is best for us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan and lifted the penalty of death that threatened to crush all hope. We trust God, through the gift of His grace, for our eternal salvation. We can trust Him in everything else, too: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Psalm 37:5-6).

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, when sorrow troubles me, lead me to find hope in the promises of Your Word. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “All Depends on Our Possessing,” which is number 732 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Can you recall when God was with you in a very difficult space in your life?
2. It can be hard to commit our way to God when things are going badly. How do verses like Matthew 6:25, Romans 8:31-32, and Philippians 4:19 give us strength to press on?
3. How can you be there for someone else when things are troubling them?

Today's Readings:

Jeremiah 1-2
Acts 26

Archive

All | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |

Large Print