Daily Devotionals
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 (Paula)
What commonly trips us up on our walk of faith?
Temptation?
Our own egos?
Doubts?
Fears?
A huge disappointment? Past memories?
Lack of progress?
Sick and tired?
Prayers that seem to go unanswered for longer than we feel we can tolerate?
A big mistake?
Or an embarrassing setback?
Most often what trips us up on our walk of faith boils down to some sort of trigger that leaves us feeling hopeless.
So, how do we renew our spiritual strength in the midst of this? We know our strength comes from God, but how do we engage?
According to scripture, the simple answer is HOPE. check it out…
Isaiah 40:30-31
“Even youths grow tired, and weary,
and young people stumble and fall;
but those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
There’s your answer… “those that HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.”
Ok, so how do we muster up hope when we don’t FEEL hopeful? How do we acknowledge the dawn while we are still sitting in darkness?
I just finished a book called “Hope Is the First Dose“ by Dr. Lee Warren. He is a neurosurgeon who tragically suffered traumatic loss. He unfolds his story of tragedy and shares his journey of faith and the role of hope in his own healing. He’s a brilliant and compassionate writer, who takes the word of God right to heart.
One thing that sticks with me from this special book is how he prescribes the application of hope in a practical manner.
He notes, “ in every case of a biblical writer, moving through pain and into peace of mind, there are two elements that combine to allow the hope muscles to flex into action: memory and movement.”
Hope requires action.
Memory and movement were used by David (see his lamenting Psalm 143). Memory and movement were used by the psalmist named Asaph (see Psalm 77).
Asaph was in trouble at the start of his Psalm:
“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night, I stretched out tiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.”
What a sad dude! This guy was hurting so much that he couldn’t sleep! I know you’ve been there - and so have I- when you’re so scared and you can’t stop hurting enough to sleep.
But both Asaph and David handle their pain and peril the same way… via MEMORY AND MOVEMENT.
They REMEMBER the true things about God and they MOVE by using songs, prayer, meditation, and action.
That’s the flex
of HOPE!
These two guys in the Bible show us that in the middle of a pity party when we feel completely hosed and done for, we can say “time out- stop!” We can get off the crazy train of catastrophizing and use memory and movement to recall that you’ve been through hard things before and God is forever good and faithful.
The Christian lament is unique. Yes, it’s a cry… but it’s a hopeful one! A lament is a powerful tool in its pattern. It acknowledges the reality of the difficulty we find ourselves in, AND it incorporates the discipline of remembering the holiness, greatness, and steadfast attributes of God! Both!
We renew our strength with hope.
If you are struggling in any way today, perhaps you’ve “tripped” or taken a full face plant, please know you’re not alone! You are being prayed over. There’s no way out but through… and you’ll get through.
Read Psalm 77 and 143 and see how David and Asaph flexed their hope muscles.
You can do it too!
Reach out if you need support! We are here for you.
Better Together,
Paula
Temptation?
Our own egos?
Doubts?
Fears?
A huge disappointment? Past memories?
Lack of progress?
Sick and tired?
Prayers that seem to go unanswered for longer than we feel we can tolerate?
A big mistake?
Or an embarrassing setback?
Most often what trips us up on our walk of faith boils down to some sort of trigger that leaves us feeling hopeless.
So, how do we renew our spiritual strength in the midst of this? We know our strength comes from God, but how do we engage?
According to scripture, the simple answer is HOPE. check it out…
Isaiah 40:30-31
“Even youths grow tired, and weary,
and young people stumble and fall;
but those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
There’s your answer… “those that HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.”
Ok, so how do we muster up hope when we don’t FEEL hopeful? How do we acknowledge the dawn while we are still sitting in darkness?
I just finished a book called “Hope Is the First Dose“ by Dr. Lee Warren. He is a neurosurgeon who tragically suffered traumatic loss. He unfolds his story of tragedy and shares his journey of faith and the role of hope in his own healing. He’s a brilliant and compassionate writer, who takes the word of God right to heart.
One thing that sticks with me from this special book is how he prescribes the application of hope in a practical manner.
He notes, “ in every case of a biblical writer, moving through pain and into peace of mind, there are two elements that combine to allow the hope muscles to flex into action: memory and movement.”
Hope requires action.
Memory and movement were used by David (see his lamenting Psalm 143). Memory and movement were used by the psalmist named Asaph (see Psalm 77).
Asaph was in trouble at the start of his Psalm:
“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night, I stretched out tiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.”
What a sad dude! This guy was hurting so much that he couldn’t sleep! I know you’ve been there - and so have I- when you’re so scared and you can’t stop hurting enough to sleep.
But both Asaph and David handle their pain and peril the same way… via MEMORY AND MOVEMENT.
They REMEMBER the true things about God and they MOVE by using songs, prayer, meditation, and action.
That’s the flex
of HOPE!These two guys in the Bible show us that in the middle of a pity party when we feel completely hosed and done for, we can say “time out- stop!” We can get off the crazy train of catastrophizing and use memory and movement to recall that you’ve been through hard things before and God is forever good and faithful.
The Christian lament is unique. Yes, it’s a cry… but it’s a hopeful one! A lament is a powerful tool in its pattern. It acknowledges the reality of the difficulty we find ourselves in, AND it incorporates the discipline of remembering the holiness, greatness, and steadfast attributes of God! Both!
We renew our strength with hope.
If you are struggling in any way today, perhaps you’ve “tripped” or taken a full face plant, please know you’re not alone! You are being prayed over. There’s no way out but through… and you’ll get through.
Read Psalm 77 and 143 and see how David and Asaph flexed their hope muscles.
You can do it too!
Reach out if you need support! We are here for you.
Better Together,
Paula
