Finding Hope....

This is a daily devotion that I have sent to me. Today's devotion really struck a nerve, and I wanted to post it here, so when times get tough, my faith is lagging, and I'm having a hard time understanding life and why I'm faced with such hard things to deal with and I need just a little bit of HOPE. I can come back to this post and read it again....and maybe it can bless someone else who may stumble across it and read it as well

FINDING HOPE
Author Gail Rodgers
TruthMedia Internet Group

He called from across the country today. "Is there work out your way?" he asked. He couldn't hide the concern in his voice. He's looking for hope.

The evening news brings vivid pictures of despair in people's lives.

"Lord, where is the hope?" I silently asked.

Immediately a parade of faces flashed through my memory. Faces of people I knew personally who found God to be their anchor and strength in times of great distress and personal loss.

These were people who put their trust in God in spite of seemingly insurmountable circumstances. People whose faith anchored them as I witnessed, first hand, the peace and comfort they received from God. I saw the calm that God gave when they were shaken to the core.

Did they brave the storms of life without tears or fear or moments of loosing it? No, for they are people just like you and I, and storms can be overwhelming. Yet their eyes always turned back to the God they knew. They choose to run to Him and not from Him in their pain. He was there. He is there. For every breaking heart and every hopeless situation He is still there ... today...for you and me.

The words in Psalm 13 from The Bible echo our own at times, as David laments over the agony of his life. He cries out to God with anguished questions. "How long, O Lord, will you forget me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart?"

Having spent himself he then makes a decision. "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me."

God is big enough for you to beat on His chest and cry out your questions. If you let Him, He will encompass you with His love and quiet your heart and bring rest to your body and soul. He will remind you of blessings you still have in spite of loss.

We choose. When the job is gone, the money won't stretch to the end of the month or our health or relationships leave an uncertain future, God is still there.

Determine to trust Him. Ask Him for guidance and stability every step of your journey. He can navigate you through the maze with comfort and peace that prevails after the tears are spent.
Do you need His hand to steady you today? Do you need to beat on His chest and release your anxiety to Him? He can take the anger, the fear, the hopelessness and give you instead a peace that is beyond understanding... a peace that steadies you in spite of turbulent surroundings.

Invite Him....

Father God in Heaven,

I am tired and spent from the cares of my life and the circumstances that are overwhelming me. Forgive me for going my own way and not acknowledging You in my life. Today I want to change that. Today I want to invite You to lead me and guide me. My own resources are simply not enough. I need Your strength and Your wisdom to help me know the next step. I want to trust in You. Increase my faith and help me walk daily with You. Comfort me, reassure me of Your love and take my life into Your hands. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.