BIBLE PASSAGE:
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job;
and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared
God and shunned evil. Now the Lord blessed the latter days
of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand
sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and
one thousand female donkeys”
(Job 1:1, Job 42:12)
MEDITATION:
Job was a man who went through many tests and trials. He was
attacked in every area, from his family, to his own health and
finances. He lost all his family and possessions and his health
was steadily declining. It appeared there would be no hope for
Job.
God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many
nations. However his wife, Sarah, was beyond the age of
childbearing. In the natural world perspective, there was no
hope of Abraham being the father of many nations, since he
was childless and both he and Sarah were advanced in years.
Three Hebrew children, who refused to bow down to the king,
were sentenced to be thrown into a fiery furnace. This surely
would have meant death for them because no human could
survive it.
In the account of Daniel, king Darius signed a decree that whoever
petitioned any god or man in the next thirty days, other than the
king, was to be cast into a den of lions. Refusing to obey the king’s
decree, Daniel continued to openly pray to God. Daniel was then
thrown into the lion’s den and would surely have been eaten by
the ravenous, hungry lions.
Peter was a disciple of Jesus Christ who often spoke without
thinking things through. He also showed a temper when he
was accused of being associated with Christ. He even lied
when he denied this relationship with Christ three times.
Peter appeared to be unfit as a leader in the Christian faith.
Lazarus was a man who had been dead for four days and had
started to decay. There was no hope of life being restored in him.
Why are these people, and their situations, mentioned above?
Because we see people who were in a state of hopelessness from
a worldly viewpoint. However, in each instance, God intervened
and turned a hopeless situation into an opportunity to praise Him.
There are untold numbers of people in desperate and hopeless
situations today. The world has given up on some of them.
Doctors have sent some home with no hope. Even men and
women who God used in various ways at one time, may have
found themselves in hopeless situations.
The same God who rescued from hopelessness those we read about
in the Bible, is the same God we worship today. Has He changed in
any way? His Word says that He never changes, so the answer is,
“No, He has not changed!” That tells us that He can do the same
things for us that He did for those we read about.
ACTION:
The world offers many solutions and advice for those in hopeless
situations, but wouldn’t it be much better to go to the expert in
resolving hopelessness? Have you found yourself in a hopeless
situation (maybe you are in one now)?
Instead of allowing the feelings of hopelessness to consume you,
try to view them as opportunities for increasing your relationship
with God. Some people go to God as their last hope, but doesn’t
it just make sense that we should go to Him as our first hope?
When things are going great, some have a tendency to drift
from their fellowship with God. However, troublesome times
can remind us of the importance of God in our lives, and our
need for Him at all times.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for creating hope from hopelessness.
Thank You for Your Word that tells us how You have rescued those
in the past. Where would I be today but for You? Thank You for
always being here with me, for holding me up, and for giving me
hope. Help me to recognize the importance of You in my life, and
to nourish my relationship with You by spending more time with
You and other believers. Whenever I face any seemingly hopeless
situation, teach me to come to You first.”
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