Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick."
The new life must be a life of hope. It must take the forward look that expectantly and confidently reaches out for the good things to come and draws on them for strength to face the present boldly and courageously. When there is no longer any hope or when the fulfillment of our hope is delayed, our heart is made sick, and we lose the will to carry on.
The ability to hope is one of the qualities that makes humankind different from the other earthly creatures of God. In it the Creator has given us another source of power and strength for the tasks of life. This is true for us especially in the new life in Christ.
The Christian can see ahead when the visibility is zero. It is hope that makes us persevere in a cause that seems doomed to failure. It is hope that makes us look for healing when we are desperately hurt and for improvement when a situation seems to be beyond repair. It is hope that makes us able to live with impossible people and to expect a change for the better even while the worst is before us. It is hope that encourages us to undertake tasks and assume responsibilities that seem to be beyond us. We need to hope. Thank God for the hope He has given us in Christ, our Lord and Savior! Pray God for more of it!
PRAYER: O God, in whom we trust, preserve us from despair and grant us a greater measure of hope. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Kings 10-11 Acts 8:26-40
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