Hopelessness? 12th Day in Lent (Tuesday) Read: Micah 7:1-7 “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7 (NIV)

Our world seems to be in disarray. Political leaders are vying for more land and beginning wars over this land. People are upset over rights and rally about injustices, our youth run rampant in the streets hurting themselves and others. Can there be any hope for our world? In the reading from Micah 7:1–7, it sounds so much like the world today, but this was written between 750 and 686 BCE. Has nothing changed with a godless society? Micah was lamenting over a decadent society and the godlessness of his generation. In verse 6 we also read of the breakdown of the family unit.

There was hopelessness then as well as now. We see people turn away from their faith and the truth of God. They turn to other gods: property, wealth, holidays, possessions, entertainment and experiences. Our prayer is that families will turn to God, that they will teach their children the truth and that the world will turn to see God and worship Him. That is our hope! Let’s follow the example of Micah and not dwell in the hopelessness that we see, rather, we watch and wait in hope for the Lord. We can also rest securely in this hope.

That God will hear our prayers and that we can make a difference even in our small part of the world and remain faithful to God and His Word. God sending Jesus at Christmas was the greatest gift God could give to a fallen world. This gift paved a new way of living in God’s grace and forgiveness and the hope of a better day. God looked at His sin-diseased world and provided the remedy for that condition in His only Son. We are sinful people, but we are also God’s forgiven people who walk through life with hope. Jesus promises us eternal life as a gift from our Heavenly Father.

The world may be scary, and unrest surrounds us but know that there is hope for all the world for we have a God who loves and cares for His children. Discouraged? Feeling hopeless? Know that God brings hope! Prayer: My God, I know you care for your world. Bring peace and comfort to your people. Help me know that in you only can I find hope and peace for my life and soul. Amen

Read: Lamentations 3:21-26 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)

I have a son who, when younger, did not like to wear anything new. I don’t know why whether it was the scratchiness of the material or the label, or that they were unfamiliar, but he liked his old faithfuls. It got to the point where I would keep some newer yet older clothes that he could wear when we went out and to church. It is interesting that this didn’t apply to underwear or school clothes. It took a couple of years, but he grew out of this quirkiness and is now a fan of new clothes! There is comfort in the familiar. My husband says when we have hamburgers or spaghetti, “This is comfort food.”

I understand that this is the food he grew up with, and it brings memories. I value the above Bible verse, that God’s love is not the same every day. Each day He shows His love to us in a different way, but it is comfortable and brings peace. There is nothing unfamiliar about God’s great love and His feelings towards us, so each day we can put them on, it is a faithfulness that does not change. Each day I can wake up in the hope and with the promise that God has said that my day is a new one, but nothing unfamiliar will change with His love.

This devotional theme challenges me, like all the ones before. How can I come up with new stories, new illustrations to share the hope I have in a loving God who sent His Son to live a human life, and then on a painful journey to the cross and a tortuous death. This was all for you and me. Jesus didn’t stay dead – God had Jesus beat death and rise from the dead so that we can have hope and a future with our Heavenly Father. Jesus paid the cost for all our sins.

This might sound familiar and it brings comfort, but chew over this comfort food, read a new Bible verse and remember God’s goodness. Each day is a new day to love God and each other.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your familiar yet new love and grace which you give me every day. Help me to appreciate your forgiveness and all you did for me on the cross. Amen.

Don’t Quit! 2nd Sunday during Lent

Read: Jeremiah 29:11-14a “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous composer-pianist, was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. In the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. The mother was hopeful that her son would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the immortal Paderewski at the piano. As she turned to talk with friends, her son slipped away from her side, drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway piano. He placed his small, trembling f ingers in the right location and began to play “Chopsticks.”

Hundreds of frowning faces pointed in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to shout: “Where’s his mother?” “Somebody stop him!” Backstage, the master overheard the sounds out front and quickly put together in his mind what was happening. Without one word of announcement, he stooped over behind the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance “Chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear: “Keep going. Don’t quit.

Keep on playing… don’t stop… don’t quit.” God knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope. This does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship… God never promised us that; in fact, there will be many trials and temptations in our lives. But He wants us to prosper and have a peace that Jesus gives us through His death on the cross. Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t, like the little boy, but God makes good out of any circumstance we may find ourselves in. God is the kind of leader that will never leave us. He will always be with us.

He will carry us when we cannot walk. When we are down, it will be Him, that will reach down with his loving hand and pick us up, dust off our clothes, put a Band Aid on our scrape, kiss it better then send us back to try again. This Lenten season remember that there is a God who loves and cares for you and your future. Start playing. Keep playing. Don’t stop, don’t quit.

Prayer: My Father God, you reach out to me, encouraging me to keep going, even when things are hard. Thank you for your plans and promises for my life. I live in hope of my future. Amen.