Finding hope in difficult times is about learning to trust God, even when we feel defeated.
Ever felt defeated, deflated, and discouraged? That’s today; it’s been a lot this season, with one thing after another. Lots of good things have happened, but the hard things too. Each time I have a sliver of hope, I get knocked down – defeated, deflated, and down. It doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of hope right now. Things just keep happening. Today crushed the hope I was holding onto. It deflated the hope that I wouldn’t always live with this disease. It took me down a road that’s not pleasant; it’s a road that I try to avoid. No amount of platitudes or that’s not the ultimate answer/say, etc that I would normally muster helped. Today hit me a lot harder than normal.
Ever felt like you were in a pit and couldn’t see the way out of it? I found myself body-deep in a pit that I had no way of knowing how to get out of. People had tried offering a hand to me to help me lift myself out, but I passed on them today. It was almost like I wanted to sit in my pity party for a minute. Then I reminded myself King David knew what defeat felt like. He sat in a pit needing help.
Determined and Encouraged
God promised me I wouldn’t stay in this pit. This valley had a light at the end. Clouded by our circumstances and emotions, we find it difficult to see past the next five minutes. I knew eventually I would feel better; it just would not be in this moment until the Lord reminded me how he lifted David out of the pit. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:2 NIV). These words from David in the verse prior hit even harder than the reassurance that God would rescue me. “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1 NIV).
God hears the lament; He knows when we are struggling and when things are going well. Hopefully, there isn’t a difference in how you talk to the Lord or in the frequency of it when things are good vs. when they aren’t going your way. The Lord knows what you are thinking. He knows how hard this blow was for you. He knows the desires of your heart. Yet sometimes, He doesn’t answer the way we want. Sometimes His silence is the answer, while other times He speaks volumes into our hearts.
Turning Our Hearts
God turns our hearts towards Him. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:3 NIV). He felt silent in those days of waiting, yet He answered. Two days later, during my Bible study quiet time, He spoke directly to my heart through His Word, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. ’Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.’” (Habakkuk 2:3-4 NLT).
The second part of verse three was God’s answer: “If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently.” He was telling me to wait. I’m still learning to wait well; impatience could be my middle name. But the answer didn’t stop there: “…for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” (Habakkuk 2:3b NLT).
God was telling me I could count on it, in His timing. God’s never late, nor is His timing off; He is always on time, in His time. Verse four told me to walk by faith, “…’But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.’” (Habakkuk 2:4b NLT). God doesn’t fail us; He wants us to be obedient to Him, to fully surrender to Him, trusting Him. At that moment, with coffee in hand and the quiet of the house there, God was speaking to me about my current situation; it was time to surrender every detail to Him and trust in His timing.
Defeated to Delivered
While I started in lament and disappointment, I found myself with a new song in my heart. Knowing that God was fighting this battle restored my hope. I just needed to trust Him and His timing. I needed to wait well and walk by faith. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Today it’s time to lay it all down at the foot of the cross and rest in knowing that God is in full control; trust Him to handle your problems and circumstances.
Prayer
Lord, I don’t always understand your ways, yet you never give up on me. Thank You for renewing my hope and reminding me that You are in control. I surrender all to You; help me to walk humbly in faith and rest in knowing that You’ve got this. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and love that brings peace that passes all understanding. Thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Hope in the Healing: A 40-Day Journey Through Chronic Illness
Hope in the Healing: A 40-Day Devotional Journey Through Chronic Illness
Find strength for today and hope for tomorrow with this compassionate 40-day devotional designed for those navigating the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of chronic illness. Hope in the Healing offers gentle encouragement, Scripture-based reflections, and space to connect with God—even on the hardest days.
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