Hope Unswervingly

 Read Romans 5:1-8 Virtually the entire Old Testament, from Genesis 3 to Matthew, is the story of God’s people waiting. Adam and Eve chose not to follow God’s command and sin came into God’s perfect creation. From that time, people were waiting for God’s Messiah to come and save them from their sins. God promised to bring salvation to all people, delivering them from under Satan’s dominion. They were not always conscious of the waiting, but it was always there. As the prophets began to speak about the promised Messiah, there was an anticipation of the event. However, that was not always enough to keep God’s people on track and living according to God’s plan. Why in the world did God not offer the sacrifice of the Messiah right away when it was first needed? Honestly, I do not know the answer to that, but it has to do with waiting. And God’s justice. And patience. And perfect timing.   And demonstrating the faithfulness of God. And it’s about providing hope for the future. ...

 Read Galatians 4:5-7 We sat on the steps leading to the beach at a pristine northern Minnesota Lake. We were surrounded by tall Norway pines which swayed and whispered in the wind high above us. The sun sparkled on the clear water. There was beauty all around, but my attention was mostly drawn to my 2 1/2 year old grandson, Matthew. Matthew had discovered a jumping spot - a place where railroad ties held back the sand and offered an 18" drop - perfect for a little boy to test his jumping skills. After taking his first tentative leap, Matthew decided this was a very fun game, and circled back to the steps beside us, approached the ledge, and jumped again. Over and over, he made the circle. However, he added one step as he repeated his leap. Each time he came to the ledge, he patted his daddy's head, sweetly asked, "How 'ya doin', Daddy?" and then jumped. Sometimes he landed on his feet, sometimes on his knees, and a few times, he almost face-planted in the sa...

Read Psalm 25, especially focusing on verses 16-22. David closes this Psalm with heartfelt words, speaking all the things He needs from God at this time. This is exactly what God wants of us. We have declared our trust and are living it out by keeping our eyes on God. Now ask. Speak to God from the depths of your being and tell Him what you long for. I often find that when I’m hurting the most, words don’t come very easily. However, reading the Psalms as prayers often express exactly what I’m feeling. Verses 16-22 give a wonderful example if you don’t know where to start. I am alone. (v. 16) Our distress can leave us in a dark and empty place, feeling like there is absolutely no one to whom we can turn. Acknowledge this feeling and remember that God does not EVER leave us alone. Bring me out of my sufferings. (v. 17) We’ve already mentioned that the Christian life does not prevent suffering, but that God always provides a way through it. Look to Him for the solution. Take away ...

Read Psalm 25:12-15 Much of the waiting process has to do with learning where your focus needs to be. If we focus on what we don’t have or don’t yet know, we lose out on so much of what God has for us right now. These verses of Psalm 25 remind us of the benefits of keeping our eyes focused on God. The one who lives in worshipful submission to God Almighty will be given direction in life (v. 12) Our human understanding does not give us a complete or accurate picture of what it will take to get to the end result of our waiting, but God does know that picture. If we stay focused on Him, we will receive His guidance as we navigate this unfamiliar road. I’m one who likes to travel with a map in her lap. I enjoy looking ahead at the route, knowing the final destination, and marking off the cities and landmarks we go by on the way there. I am less enamored with a GPS that only shows me the next turn I’ll need to make. I guess that requires a lot more trust in the device than I tend to hav...

Read Psalm 25:1-5 Psalm 25 is a prayer of one who waits for the Lord. If we break it down, we will see a basic pattern for prayer that will help us to pray effectively in times of waiting, much like the Lord’s Prayer teaches us a pattern to use in our daily prayer time. David starts out by declaring his dependence on God. Verses 1-5 state that he trusts God and turns to Him for what he’s waiting for. That kind of trust will not disappoint, but misplaced trust will cause problems. On top of this basic declaration of trust, David pleads for understanding and guidance to teach him along the way. Putting these verses in more blunt language of today, it might read “Lord, I know I can trust you. Don’t prove me wrong.” This is an excellent place to start our prayers. When we declare our faith in God, even when we don’t feel it so completely, we put our focus in the right place. The solution to our problem or situation will not come from somewhere else; it will come from God. God wants t...