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Lord God, hope sometimes feels so costly, yet our hearts can’t live without it! You are the God of all hope and the giver of all good gifts. Let hope arise within me on this day! Not wishful thinking or positive thoughts; I want redemptive hope — a pure, confident assurance that You are up to something good and soon my eyes will see it. Heal the places in my story where disappointment still lives. Help me plant fresh seeds of hope, knowing the harvest will come in due time. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
We were out to lunch recently with our son Jake and his precious wife, Lizzie. They’re the ones who’ve battled infertility for many years. I’ve watched them graciously play with nephews and nieces on the floor and enter into family times with a heart hospitality that’s left me breathless. I’ve watched holidays come and go with no signs of a breakthrough. Still, they’ve stayed engaged in their relationships. They buy thoughtful gifts for birthdays and Christmases. They pray for the rest of us when we walk through hard times.
I’ve marveled as I’ve watched them. I’ve cried out to God more times than I can count. I know He hears us, but this has been heartbreakingly painful.
They’ve tried hormones, IUI, and IVF and are now walking through the process of something called snowflake adoption. Over lunch, I told Jake, “I’m praying for an acceleration of your paperwork. That you’ll be matched with a baby sooner than you expect.” Jake’s eyes welled with tears, and he reached for my arm. “Mom! Don’t pray that way for me. That’s not what I want. That’s not helpful right now. I don’t need this process to speed up. I need my heart to heal.
- Our hopes have been dashed so many times; I need a heart that has space for hope.”
Ugh. I choked back the tears and said, “Of course, honey. That makes so much sense. That’s exactly how I’ll pray.”
I asked Jake and Lizzie if I could share this part of their story, and he said, “One of the ways we can partner with God for the renewal of all things is to use our story to help others.” I love that boy.
I can think of countless times when I was willing to bypass hope and just wanted relief. More than relief, God is after the full redemption of our story. We just want a break, but God is after a breakthrough. Jake’s prayerful plea was bursting with wisdom. It’s not enough just to get what we want when we want it. God wants life to spring up in every aspect of our story. He wants our hearts to have lots of space for hope.
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God knows our end from our beginning. He’s written out all our days before we’ve lived even one. He knows the way we take, and He knows we’ll come through our trials as gold, as ones purified by the fire.
If hope feels too expensive for you, don’t despair. Just whisper a prayer to the One who loves you, holds you, and will never let you go. He is your faithful God, and He knows what you need and even what you strongly desire. His plans for you are good. Really, wonderfully good.
“I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11 AMP
The word translated as “well-being” in the verse above means peace in relationships with others and God, soul prosperity, health, safety, and wholeness.1
Let your heart rest in His goodness. Dare to trust Him with the most vulnerable parts of your story. He’s tender with your weakness and compassionate with your hurts. He’ll surround you with His favor as with a shield. You can trust Him.
Let hope arise.
BRAIN RETRAIN
Goodness is on its way to me.
FURTHER STUDY
- Interlinear Study Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, StudyLight, accessed June 27, 2023, https://www.studylight.org/study-desk/interlinear.html?q1=Jeremiah%2029.
Excerpted with permission from Waking Up to the Goodness of God by Susie Larson, copyright Susie Larson.
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Your Turn
Hope can feel like a really bitter friend when you’ve waited what seems like too long or been disappointed again and again. Your heart may need the Holy Spirit’s tender healing touch. Rest in His goodness today and let hope arise again. God is with you! ~ Devotionals Daily