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Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

You are here: Home / Encouragement to Abide / Dawn of Hope

Dawn of Hope

August 18, 2020 by Cheli Sigler 1 Comment

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Fertility issues

Job loss

Uprooting and moving

Bankruptcy

At some point during each of these experiences, I felt hopeless. I can remember where I was and what I was doing when a loved one said, “Cheli, it is ‘always darkest before the dawn.’” You know, I have found that statement to be true. Each difficult circumstance gave me new opportunities to see God work in the darkest moments of my life and the dawn of HOPE.

The Dark

As I searched the scripture about hope, I came to a favorite passage in Lamentations 3. Here, the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, recounts his personal suffering and that of the kingdom of Judah while God enacted His justice on His people for their sin. It was a dark time for Jeremiah.

I remember my affliction and my wandering,

the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.

–Lamentations 3:19-20, NIV

Throughout our lives, even when walking with God like Jeremiah, we will experience hardship. Life gets hard. Sometimes the darkness threatens to overtake us. Jeremiah shares his suffering, but he does not wallow in it. He sees the dawn approaching.

The Dawn

Jeremiah has spent several verses detailing his despair, and then we come to his declaration of hope.

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

–Lamentations 3:21-23, NIV

In his darkest hour, Jeremiah remembers God’s enduring presence, unfailing love, and abiding faithfulness. We can look to the future with confident expectation that these gifts of God are always available. Beyond the horizon, hope dawns.

We can look to the future with confident expectation that these gifts of God are always available: His presence, unfailing love and abiding faithfulness.

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Turning Point

In the middle of the difficult circumstances in my life, I reached a point where I surrendered it all to God. In my surrender, the light of HOPE broke through. Holding tight to Jesus because life depended on it, I had fresh understanding that in Christ my circumstances could not consume me, that God never stops loving me, and that I can trust Him with everything.

Jesus, thank you for your enduring presence, overwhelming love, and new mercies that greet me with each new day. I trust in You. You are my HOPE.

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About Cheli Sigler

Cheli Sigler is a teacher through and through. She pursues her God-given purpose from her home base in sunny Orlando, FL alongside her husband, Matt, and their two daughters. Cheli is a part-time teacher at a Christian school, equips missionary kids for the mission field as a volunteer at Wycliffe Bible Translators, and serves Hello Mornings as a group leader mentor and writer. Inviting people to sharpen their minds and soften their hearts for God’s purpose and the world, Cheli shares ideas and resources on her blog, Sharpen to Soften. Connect with Cheli on Twitter as @CheliSigler or on Instagram as @chelidee.

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  1. Anchored by Hope: Series Wrap-Up - Do Not Depart says:
    August 28, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    […] a beautiful depiction of hope bursting through despair, Cheli said, “in his darkest hour, Jeremiah remembers God’s enduring presence, unfailing love, and […]

    Reply

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