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Getting Out of God’s Way – Excerpt from Kathy Howard’s New Devotional

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We’re so excited to have Kathy Howard guest posting for us on the blog today! As many you know, Kathy was a long time contributor to the Do Not Depart blog. Her latest book, 30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents, has just been released. Today’s post is an excerpt from that book and contains valuable lessons and reminders for everyone, regardless of the stage of life we’re in. Kathy reminds us that God will not waste our experiences, but will use them to shape us into Christ’s likeness. I pray Kathy’s words will touch your heart and give you hope! — Ali


Getting Out of God’s Way

Our great God never wastes anything. No struggle is fruitless. No pain futile. No challenge in vain. God can work in and through every situation He allows into our lives – even the worst of circumstances – to bring about our good and His glory. 

My caregiving journey was still fairly new when I realized God wanted to use the experience to do something in me. If I would cooperate, my relationship with my father-in-law would be a tool in His hand to shape my character and refine my faith.

When Wayne’s dad first moved in with us, he was fairly independent. But as time passed, he needed us more and more. With Wayne commuting a long distance to work, much of the responsibility logically fell to me. But Pappaw’s growing dependence exposed the rough places in my character and areas of spiritual immaturity. 

So many things bubbled to the surface – like selfishness, impatience, and shallowness. Every day seemed to reveal another layer of my sinful flesh. Irritation quickly rose up when a last-minute doctor’s appointment meant I had to cancel a lunch date. And instead of responding to his occasional harsh words with gentleness and grace, I sometimes uttered sharp words of frustration.

30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents - Read and Excerpt of Kathy Howard's newest book on DoNotDepart.com
The demands and pressures of parenting my father-in-law did not cause these sinful attitudes and actions. The relationship merely jostled my heart, causing what was already there to spill out (Matthew 12:34). 

My friend Stephanie had the same experience caring for her mother-in-law Louise. “I know this journey isn’t just about Louise. It’s also about me. God wants to draw me closer to Himself. He’s using these trials of caregiving to chisel off attitudes and behaviors not in line with His will.”

In our human weakness, we ache for our struggles to end. We long for the hardness of life – for ourselves and our parents – to ease. Yet God wants much more for us than an easy life in this world. He wants to make us like His Son (Romans 8:28-30). He wants our lives to bring Him glory and point others to Jesus. 

God will use every possible means to rid our lives of sin and shape us into the likeness of Christ. One of His primary shaping tools is trials (1 Peter 1:6-7). In God’s skillful hands, the challenge of caring for our parents performs like a chisel on our hearts and souls, shaving off sinful rough spots, cutting notches, creating gentle curves, and forming smooth bevels.

Yet, sometimes, I’m my own worst enemy. Rather than submitting myself to the Master Craftsman and trusting His refining process, I fight God’s purposeful work. I doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness. I complain that He isn’t working. That He doesn’t care. That surely, He doesn’t see our plight. 

Do you ever feel the same way? Too often, God’s children walk through our days near-sighted. We only see the struggles, challenges, and trials at hand, forgetting that the eternal glory awaiting us far outshines these light and momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Oh believer, be assured, God knows your every physical need and struggle as you care for your parent. He sees your sleepless nights, your tired muscles, and your frayed emotions. He hears your groans, your sighs, and your prayers. He is keenly aware that you are often overworked, overstressed, and overlooked. He not only knows it all, He cares. He cares that you hurt and grieve for yourself and your parents. 

This temporary struggle – no matter how difficult – cannot compare to God’s eternal purposes for you and your parent. Keep your eyes on the prize of God’s glorious salvation (1 Peter 1:9). Rest in the assurance that God will not waste a single tear. And embrace the joy of Christ. It’s yours today.

Can you see God working in the midst of your trials? In what ways have you fought God’s refining process?

 

Caring for aging parents? Our great God never wastes anything. He can use our trials for His glory! #30DaysofHopeWhenCaringforAgingParents

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God will use every possible means to rid our lives of sin and shape us into the likeness of Christ. Read an excerpt of Kathy Howard’s new book on the blog. #30DaysofHopeWhenCaringforAgingParents

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Kathy Howard guest post on DoNotDepart.com Kathy Howard calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she moved with her engineer husband around the U.S. and Canada. She says “pop” instead of “Coke” and “you guys” as often as “y’all.” But she’s still a southern girl at heart! Kathy encourages women to live an unshakeable faith by standing firm on our rock-solid God no matter life’s circumstances. Kathy, the author of eight books, including the new daily devotional “30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents,” has a Master’s in Christian Education. She is passionate about Bible study and discipleship and loves sharing at women’s events and retreats. Kathy is also a regular contributor to Crosswalk.com, Hello Mornings, Arise Daily, and more. Kathy and her “mostly retired” husband live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area near family. They have three married children, four grandsons, and three dogs – one of them on purpose. She provides free discipleship resources and blogs regularly at www.KathyHoward.org. Kathy also connects with women at Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. 

30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents

Struggling to navigate the parent/child role reversal? Kathy Howard’s new book, 30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents, explores God’s Word to find hope and encouragement for the wide range of physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges the adult child caregiver may experience. Each of the 30 devotions – which can also serve as a guide for a daily quiet time – includes a Scripture passage, a real-life illustration, biblical commentary/application, and questions for reflection.

Book Endorsement

“Theology must connect with reality and the promises of God must find expression in the trials of life. 30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents is a book that brings the resources of God to bear upon the painful realities of life. The reader will find great hope, divine strength, and Christ-like compassion as they assist parents on the final stretch of their journey toward home.”

—Dr. Mel Blackaby, senior pastor, First Baptist Jonesboro, GA

Tiqvah – The Cord of Hope

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The rain started as a light sprinkle in the late evening. I could barely feel it on my face as I took a last look around the yard for loose items. The trees had been swaying in the strong winds for hours, but the rain began almost as a mist.

I couldn’t have imagined that forty-eight hours later our home would have received close to twenty inches of rain.

Rain measurement during Tropical Storm Harvey
What began as Hurricane Harvey crashing into coastal Texas had become Tropical Storm Harvey by the time my rural county started to feel its power. The name didn’t matter. It was the water, the endless water. Water that undercut roads, that flooded homes and rivers, that shorted out power and leaked through roofs. Water that canceled church, school, work.

But what we received in our county was nothing compared to what happened when Tropical Storm Harvey unleashed on Houston. My Facebook feed began to show posts from Houston friends saying “I am getting worried. The rain is almost at our porch.”

Within hours those posts had changed to “What number do I call to get on the list for a boat rescue?” “Will the Coast Guard let my dogs come in the boat?” “Please pray, I am scared!”

When we are in the middle of a terrifying storm, whether it is a physical storm like Harvey, or a figurative storm, what we want more than anything—what we desperately need—is hope.

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”Psalm 62:5

The Hebrew word translated as hope in Psalm 62:5 is תִּקְוָה (tiqvah). Tiqvah is an interesting word, because it has two meanings. [amazon_link id=”0785250565″ target=”_blank” ]Strong’s Concordance[/amazon_link] tells us it can mean either “expectation” or “cord”.

How powerful that image is—my hope, or expectation, in the Lord is as solid as a cord binding me to Him. A cord that rescues me.

 

This image is from a flood in Lima, Peru on March 17, 2017. credit

This tiqvah hope is the hope of Jeremiah 29:11…

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

… and the hope of Psalm 71:5…

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

 

Isaiah 43:2
The hope that we place in the Lord tethers our hearts to His. We can be confident placing our hope in Him. We are not bound to a moving object. We are not rescued by a god who wavers or wanders. No, the Lord is a rock.

Read the verses that follow Psalm 62:5:

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

Psalm 62:5-8

Are you in the midst of a storm? Bind yourself with the cords of hope to the Lord, dear one. With certain expectation you can hope in the Lord, your rock and your salvation.

Storms may rage, but tiqvah hope tethers us to our rock and our salvation. #harvey #OTHebrewWords

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Keeping an Eternal Perspective {Renewed Minds}

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Renewing our minds with an eternal perspective gives us hope in the midst of earthly struggles.

My mood was tense.

It was a jam-packed day, I wasn’t feeling well, and I was behind on several important tasks. My daughter asked, “Any update on that package?” She had an event coming up and we had ordered a special dress online to match the theme. Out in the country we don’t have many options for shopping. I had even paid extra just to make sure the dress arrived in time.

I checked the computer. The package was delayed again, now past the time frame that I had paid for, and was scheduled to arrive a week after the event. I quickly typed the website URL of the site we had ordered from, only to be met with a new message at the top of the site that the store would be closed for a holiday and wouldn’t be responding to messages until, you guessed it, a week after the event. Gah!

My son asked me a question and I snapped at him while typing a frustrated message to the store. My daughter got caught in the verbal onslaught of her irritated mama too. Snap snap snap, I wielded my words like an angry lobster snapping its unwieldy claws at anything coming near.

My wise daughter asked if we would like to pray. It took mere seconds during the prayer for me to regain perspective and feel conviction. What a silly and narrow view I was taking on the matter! Here was an opportunity to practice patience, to demonstrate resourcefulness, to be thankful for what we have… and instead I was focused on the inconvenience, and worried about disappointing my daughter.

 

Living with Eternity in Mind

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the dailies isn’t it? Even without silliness like my dress order “drama,” the day-to-day of juggling the management of my home, my work, and homeschooling my kids can distract me from eternal matters. On top of personal issues, world news seems to become more and more alarming each year. And now we have social media to contend with, making the news all the more personal as we observe how it impacts the people in our lives. This earthly life, as beautiful as it can be, can also be distracting and discouraging.

But as children of God we are members of an eternal and spiritual realm already. It is like we live a double life – one foot on earth and one foot in heaven.

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” Philippians 3:18-20

What would happen if you and I looked at everything through an eternal lens? How would it change what we perceived? How would it affect our responses?

 

What Changes When You Keep an Eternal Perspective?

Frankly, just about everything changes when you have an eternal perspective. Here are a few examples:

– You live aware that Jesus Christ abides in you!

“…do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

– Earthly frustrations and wants get put in their proper place. You recognize that they are insignificant in the vast expanse of eternal life.

“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17

– You make decisions and act based not on your circumstances but on God’s Truth.

“An eternal perspective affects our priorities and our actions” – Henry Blackaby

– You recognize that Satan is at the root of the struggles you face with others.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

– You grow in patience.

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:7-8

 

Take Heart

Renewing our minds with an eternal perspective gives us hope in the midst of earthly struggles. This hope is alive through the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-7

My silly dress drama was minor even from an earthly perspective. It was inconsequential from an eternal perspective. And guess what? That dress showed up on our doorstep the day of the event after all!

Take heart, and stay focused. No matter what you may be going through, keeping your mind fixed on the truth of your eternal inheritance in Christ will help you navigate the storm.

 

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Jesus Christ through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit can help you adjust your thinking. Your mental attitudes impact how you plan and how you process what happens in your life. Renew your mind to align with Christ!

Renewing our minds with an eternal perspective gives us hope in the midst of earthly struggles. #RenewedMinds

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“An eternal perspective affects our priorities and our actions” – Henry Blackaby #RenewedMinds

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Holding on to Hope

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NIV)

So far this month, we’ve look at renewing our minds to optimism, gratitude, trusting through uncertainty, and dealing with fear.

Something that remains constant through all of this with renewed minds? Hope.

Hope always makes me think of growth.

Hope makes me think of a seed planted, and even though it hasn’t broken ground yet, it waits and hopes and is ready to grow when God says it’s time.

Hope reminds me that God may not be physically visible, but we can see Him any time we look for His people sharing His love, and anytime we read His words that love and truth will always lead the way (2 John 3).

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

Holding on to Hope - DoNotDepart.com

Hope as a Gift

Ali mentioned in her post earlier this month that “optimism is an expression of the joy borne of faith, and repels doubting.” Optimism is an expression of joy, which comes from faith. Joy is a gift.

And you know what? Hope is a gift too. It comes from trust and faith and His love for us.

One of our writers, Lisa, recently tweeted a quote from author Caroline Myss that reads: “Always, beyond the darkness, God’s greater plan is in motion. That is the truth you need to trust.”

God tells us we can always hope in Him (Jeremiah 29:11).

We can take joy from this hope, too (Romans 12:12).

And what is it we hope for, even in the darkness? Hope of His redemption and full adoption (Romans 8:22-25, 1 Peter 1:3-5) and full deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:7,10, 1 Timothy 4:10).

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” – Romans 8:23-25

Hope as a Mindset

As Patti said in the introduction this month, our habits and choices start in our heads. And even there, they start as thoughts and internal dialogue.

What we say out loud matters.

What we say to ourselves in our heads matters.

We can focus on the worries and conflicts around us, or we can actively look for hope.

And, as human nature is, it’s much easier to focus on the bad stuff around us. (Like Lindsay said earlier this month, we can choose what we allow to fill our minds.) So it really is an active intention to open our eyes to hope.

Hope leads to more hope which leads to more and more hope.

A Few Glimmers to Help You Hold On

With all that’s going on in our country and our world right now, I’ve been on the lookout for hope. Like Mister Rogers originally said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” We can associate that to hope, too. Let’s look for hopers together.

Here are just a few of the many glimmers by God’s creation that are helping me open my eyes to hope:

  • Check out pretty much anything from Brad Montague and his #joyfulrebellion, like the Kid President videos and this hope video. In my experience, God created kids to know hope and spread it joyfully.
  • Bob Goff, author and believer, spreads hope everywhere he goes. Check out his work on Instagram, Twitter, his book, and his work with Love Does.
  • Read about the amazing work Be the Bridge is doing to spread hope and unity for all of God’s people. You’ll leave their Christ-centered site inspired.

And a few more verses on hope:

-Psalm 9:18 – “But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”

-Psalm 62:5-8 – “Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.”

-Romans 5:1-2 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God…”

-1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

What glimmers of hope have you seen lately?

Let’s look for the *hopers* together this week:

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Part of #RenewedMinds means actively looking for hope. A few glimmers of hope here:

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3 Ways to “Go Tell It on the Mountain”

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go-tell-it-on-the-mountain

“How wonderful it is to see someone coming over the hills to tell good news. How wonderful to hear him announce, ‘There is peace! We have been saved!’ and to hear him say to Zion, ‘Your God is the king!’”
Isaiah 52:7 (ERV)

What’s the last big news you’ve shared? Who did you tell first?

When we have really good news, we don’t want to keep it to ourselves.

We’re looking at popular Christmas hymns this month. In “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” the shepherds had great news to share.

What is ours?

While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

~ ~ ~

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

But we’re not one of the shepherds. We didn’t hear the angels or see baby Jesus or run to tell others.

What do we have to share?

We often don’t even know what our own good news is. Yes, we know the broader story: Jesus came as a baby to save the world. But sometimes the generality of that message loses its punch in the daily specifics of our lives.

What is your good news? If you’re in the midst of your own personal struggles, how can you confidently tell others that Jesus is the giver of peace and joy? And who wants to hear what you have to say anyway?

Take a step closer to this song. Discover three ways in which we, too, can “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

1. Tell Your Part of the Story

We don’t know the exact author of this song. But we do know it was written by African-American slaves in the American south by at least 1865. Life was extremely difficult for them. They endured or died from atrocities that most of us can hardly even imagine.

Yet these are the ones who wrote a song of good news?

Yes. Perhaps especially during the hard times, we notice God’s small and large graces even more keenly. We’re looking for hope. And hope can be found.

Pay attention to where you see God’s goodness in your own life. Even in difficult circumstances.

That’s your part of His story that you’re responsible to tell. And it’s an important part of the story, however small you may feel it is. It’s nothing you create yourself. Just share what you’re seeing and hearing.

2. Tell Those Who Need to Hear

Negro spirituals were written and sung by and for those who needed hope. They needed to remind each other that God wasn’t finished yet. Justice would still come. Righteousness would prevail in the end.

We need to hear those messages, too.

Who in your life needs to hear words of hope?

Maybe when they hear how God has worked and is working in your corner of the world, they can feel hopeful that He is powerful and kind enough to do it in their corner, too. Your story is meant to be shared.

God works in your life for more than just you; it’s meant for others, too.

3. Tell It Wherever You Go

Like most Negro spirituals at the time, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” was originally passed on as an oral tradition among plantations, not as a written one. Only when John Wesley Work, Jr., the son of a church choir director and a Greek/Latin professor himself, collected songs to compile in the songbook, Folk Songs of the American Negro, in the early 1900s, did “Go Tell It on the Mountain” become widely known.

It’s since been sung millions of time, and continues to be sung in many different styles and by many different voices. (Watch the video below.)

Where can we sing our good news today?

Wherever we naturally find ourselves. We don’t have to have a stage or a recording contract or an audience. Our friends and co-workers and families are the ones who listen to us talk about other things; why not hear us talk about what Jesus has done for us?

We can be confident that God will put the right people in our lives who can benefit by the message we have to share about Him. Just as the shepherds told those around them about the birth of Jesus, we, too, can share with those around us about the life of Jesus.

When we share joy with others, we create more joy for ourselves. Our faith increases when we are more attentive to God’s works and goodness. It brings Jesus honor when we tell others how good He is.

Sharing Jesus is sharing Love. That is good news.

Go tell it yourself. On the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere.

Watch and hear:

Especially from 1:27 onward, enjoy this beautiful version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by The Mississippi Mass Choir. It will bring you joy.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain”

[If you can’t see the video, click here]

You’ve seen something. Are you sharing it? Go Tell It on the Mountain #ChristInTheCarols

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What good news from this year can you tell?
Who has shared good news with you this past year?
Please share in the comments.

Related:

Listen to this week’s episode of Pass the Mic podcast – Safe Havens in Tumultuous Times – to be encouraged by the faith and strength of the black church in times past as well as in the present.

pass-the-mic-podcast

Hope {Series Wrap-Up}

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What does the bible say about hope? A series at DoNotDepart.com
Digging into God’s Word to learn more about hope this month has been encouraging for us, and we hope it has been for you as well! To be sure you didn’t miss any post in our Hope series here is a quick synopsis:

Living Hope
“The hope that we have in and through Jesus Christ has power, and gives us strength. The more we fix our hope on Him, the more our hope grows!” – Patti

God is Our Hope
Biblical “hope is a confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God.”
“our hope (our confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God) is safe and has a firm foundation because God is who He says He is and all of His promises are true.” – Ali

Hope in Jesus is Hope that Purifies
“Hope in Jesus is the only hope that will purify any of us. This is the hope that allows us to confidently say “Yes, I am a mess, but when Jesus comes I won’t be ashamed. He already knows everything about me. I’ve brought everything into the light as He’s asked me to (1 John 1:5-9) and He still promises to claim me as His!” – Kelli

Get Your Hopes Up – Gifts in Your Future (Proverbs 23:18)
“Thankfully, God does know our future (Jeremiah 29:11). And because He is good, He has good plans in place for what’s next (Isaiah 46:4). Even when bad things happen alongside them.” – Lisa (Lisa also created a free download of Hope in Future Grace scriptures!)

The Difference Between Hoping FOR Something and Hoping IN Someone
“I was placing my hope in God doing something, instead of simply placing my hope in Him . . . the hope God desires we cling to is the hope that He will be with us through our hardships and the hope that He will use whatever we are going through for our good and His glory.” – Lindsey

When Hope for Healing Resurrected
“And in the midst of it all, God will take each trial, each pinprick and injection, each high and low, each decision to eat or abstain, to move or rest – He will take every thing and work them together in His tapestry of good purpose, not only for my life, but for those He allows me to touch as well. My fear that hope was vain was a lie. A lie from my enemy, not a truth from my Father. – Courtney (guest writer and author of Chronic Healing)

Hope in God’s Steadfast Love
“Hesed love is binding. A covenant is a legal transaction. God’s love is steadfast because it can not be broken. This is love that hope can be safely placed in, because by definition God will not remove His love from us while we are in a covenant.” – Patti

Lord, we thank you for blessing us with hope. We know you are faithful, and that hope in You does not disappoint. We look to eternity with joy knowing that You are our living hope, and that no matter what may come while we walk this earth, we are Your own, and Your steadfast love will not fail. Amen.

 

Abound in hope, friends!

Don’t miss any posts in our #hope series!

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Hope in God’s Steadfast Love

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hope-in-gods-steadfast-love

As the news fills our minds with grievous images and despairing thoughts, it is easy to feel hopeless. The world seem to be in a downward spiral, doesn’t it?

It has seemed that way for millennia. Just a quick glance at the Old Testament shows that people have been despairing over their condition from the beginning:

  • Job despairing:
    “Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?
    (Job 6:26 NASB)
  • Israelites in Egypt despairing:
    “And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!’”
    (Numbers 14:2)
  • David despairing:
    “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.”
    (Psalm 42:5 NASB)
  • David despairing some more:
    “For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
    Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.”
    (Psalm 143:3-4)
  • Solomon despairing:
    “So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun”
    (Ecclesiastes 2:20)

You see? It’s nothing new.

The trouble with placing hope in the world has always been that the world is populated by sinners – including you and me. People disappoint us. We disappoint ourselves.

But hope in God’s love won’t disappoint.

God’s Covenant Love

Let’s take a look at three verses in the Old Testament that speak of hoping in His love. Each of these verses talks about God’s love in a very specific way.

This is not the feel-good emotional love we see in Hallmark movies. It is not even the kind of New Testament love-in-action Christians try to walk out daily with those in their life.

The Hebrew words for love in these verses all come from the same root – חָ֫סֶד – transliterated hesed or checed (Strong’s #2617). The ESV translates words that come from hesed as “steadfast love.” Hesed is even more accurately translated as “covenant loyalty.”

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, Deuteronomy 7:9

Hesed love is binding. A covenant is a legal transaction. God’s love is steadfast because it can not be broken. This is love that hope can be safely placed in, because by definition God will not remove His love from us while we are in a covenant.

Now for those verses:

Steadfast Love Watches Over Us

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, Psalm 33:18

God’s covenant love binds Him to protect us. He is always tenderly watching over us!

Steadfast Love Redeems

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. Psalm 130:7

God planned from the foundation of the world to redeem His people. Those who choose to enter into a covenant of love with Him have been redeemed by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. We are free to enjoy Him for eternity!

Steadfast Love Is Unceasing

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23

God is not a god of whim. He will not suddenly pluck His love from us. His love is unceasing and His mercy never runs out

God is Faithful to Love Us

The covenant love of our Lord watches over us, redeems us and never ends. We can hope in God’s love, because He is faithful!

Psalm 33:2

Hope in God’s Steadfast Love. #hope

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We can place our hope in God’s covenant love because He is faithful! #hope

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What does the bible say about hope? A series at DoNotDepart.com

When Hope for Healing Resurrected

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The day I realized my hope had died I stood in worship, surrounded by women, all praising God. The conference had only been going for one day and the theme had nothing specifically to do with healing. But there I stood – hopeless, no longer awaiting healing – assuming my prayers would never be answered.

The speaker had finished her message and moved into prayer and prophesy, uplifting especially those in the room with autoimmune illnesses. I stood to receive prayer, again, not expecting much.

I had come to this conference as part of an annual tradition, my time with women to press into God’s presence. Just days before, I’d finished the manuscript for my second book, [amazon_link id=”1942362048″ target=”_blank” ]Chronic Healing[/amazon_link] – or so I thought. Eleven chapters chronicled my journey living with Type 1 diabetes and the multitude of ways God has brought healing to my soul, though not yet to my physical body.

Yet in that moment of prayer, hearing the prophetic decimation of autoimmune disease declared, hope stirred in my soul for the first time in years. And the Lord spoke to me: “There is one chapter yet to write. You have a chapter twelve.”

Throughout Chronic Healing, I’d poured out how God had brought healing to my wounds, food addiction, slothfulness, denial, fear, self-pity, and many more areas. But since I didn’t understand why years of prayers for physical healing had gone unheeded, I thought I’d better leave that one alone and chalk it up to God’s unsearchable ways.

And yet, in that moment, God called me to face the very thing I feared most: that hope was vain because physical healing would never come this side of heaven.

“…but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:23-26, 28 (ESV)

My physical body longs for redemption. The Holy Spirit within me intercedes on my behalf when my understanding wanes and my strength fails. He helps me walk in patience through this circumstance which weighs heavy on body and soul. And in the midst of it all, God will take each trial, each pinprick and injection, each high and low, each decision to eat or abstain, to move or rest – He will take every thing and work them together in His tapestry of good purpose, not only for my life, but for those He allows me to touch as well.

My fear that hope was vain was a lie. A lie from my enemy, not a truth from my Father.

“…Love hopes all things…” 1 Corinthians 13:7

Is there a lie standing in the way of your hope today?

Facing a chronic condition often feels like an endless hamster wheel of managing and maintaining. Few others seem to grasp what it feels like to live a life of constant monitoring, questioning every activity. Simply put, it is often lonely.

Tears for me tend to come every few months, when the spinning wheel overwhelms me again. I used to hide my tears from my children, attempting to put on a bold face, not allowing them to see how my soul was pressed.

Yet, only a few months ago, while my family worked to finish a renovation project in our garage, I swayed, dizzy. Making my way inside, I checked my sugar levels, which were low, ate in order to correct them, and lay down on my bedroom floor, face in the carpet. And the tears came once more.

My kiddos, concerned, came looking for me after just minutes away. They saw me crying, tears seeping into the floor. My daughter brought me a tissue, then laid her body on the floor, snuggled up right next to mine. My son, too, lay down on my other side. I lay sandwiched in their love and compassion.

For years, I’d sought to protect them from seeing my weakness. And yet in this moment of weakness, of brokenness, the Lord sent my sweet children as gifts to demonstrate His tenderness, His love, His nearness.

Chronic Healing emerged as a witness testifying to the grace of God and the defeat of the enemy in my life, so that you may experience them in yours. Chapter twelve did come, declaring renewed hope, declaring God’s truth: Healing is On the Way!

There is reason to hope. There is healing to be had in spirit, soul, and body. Perhaps the timing of it all is beyond our comprehension. But nothing is beyond Him.

Chronic Healing by Courtney Cohen
Chronic Healing is NOW Available! When does a chronic condition open the way for God to move miraculously? Courtney shares her raw testimony here of living with Type 1 diabetes in the midst of experiencing a healing God. Order your copy today!
[Available at: chronichealingbook.com and Amazon] ​

For Courtney Cohen, everything comes down to two questions: Who is God? And, who has He designed us to be? Whether she’s writing, speaking, or homeschooling her children, these questions propel her forward.

Author of [amazon_link id=”1938624653″ target=”_blank” ]Refining Identity[/amazon_link] and [amazon_link id=”1942362048″ target=”_blank” ]Chronic Healing[/amazon_link], Courtney passionately pursues helping others come to know the “I AM” as their closest Friend. Courtney is married to Steve, her most radical supporter, who also keeps her real. They have two children who, simultaneously, bless her socks off and keep her on her toes. Stay in touch with Courtney at her blog, IAM.NowFound.org.

Guest @CourtneyLCohen shares her journey to hope for healing of Type 1 diabetes. #hope

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Do you suffer from a chronic illness? There is #hope! Check out @CourtneyLCohen’s new book…

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The Difference Between Hoping FOR Something and Hoping IN Someone

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Hoping FOR SOMETHING is drastically different than hoping IN SOMEONE.

I know, because for a long time, I hoped for something.

Hope in Suffering - "Hoping FOR something is drastically different than hoping IN someone."

I didn’t do it intentionally. In fact, I didn’t even realize I was doing it at the time. I thought I was simply living in faith. I thought I was maintaining hope through a painful situation.

Looking back now, though, I know I wasn’t really.

I was hoping that God would fix my problem.

My husband and  I couldn’t carry a pregnancy to term. We miscarried one-then two-then three-then four babies we couldn’t wait to hold.

With each pregnancy, people told me, “I know this one is going to be different. Don’t give up hope.”

And so I kept hoping. Every time I saw a positive pregnancy test, I became hopeful. Finally, God was going to come through for us, I thought each time.

I was hopeful, yes, but not placing my hope where it  needed to go.

I was placing my hope in God doing something, instead of simply placing my hope in Him. 

Have you ever done something similar?

Have you ever misplaced your hope and placed it on SOMETHING instead of on SOMEONE? 

God has been teaching me lately that misplaced hope in the midst of pain and suffering isn’t really hope at all. Or, at least, it’s not the kind of hope God longs for us to have.

In the midst of pain and suffering, the hope God desires we cling to isn’t a hope that God will fix our problems, take away our pain, or remove all obstacles from our lives. Instead, the hope God desires we cling to is the hope that He will be with us through our hardships and the hope that He will use whatever we are going through for our good and His glory.

Romans 5:3-5, in the NLT, says that we can rejoice in our trials because we know God uses them to develop endurance, character, and hope.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

I love what this text says about how our hope in God will not lead to disappointment!

When we hope FOR something, that thing might or might not happen. If you’re hoping for God to heal you or stop your pain or fix your problem, He might do it. I hope and pray He does. But, reality is, He might not. We might be disappointed if we are  hoping FOR something to happen.

But when we hope IN God, we will not be disappointed!

There’s a huge difference between hoping FOR something and hoping IN SOMEONE, and I’d much rather take the route where I’m guaranteed not to disappointed. Wouldn’t you?

Have you ever struggled with placing your hope in something happening instead of placing your hope in God alone? Why do you think it’s so hard sometimes? 

The Difference Between Hoping FOR Something and Hoping IN Someone #Hope @LindseyMBell

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Hoping FOR SOMETHING is drastically different than hoping IN SOMEONE. #Hope @LindseyMBell

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Get Your Hopes Up – Gifts in Your Future

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You likely had a schedule for this week, a to-do list (if only in your mind) that you wanted to check off. How is it going so far?

We are lousy predictors of what’s next.

Five years ago (five months, five days), could you have predicted the events happening in our country today? In your church? Even in your family?

Unexpected > Expected

We can plan and prepare, but life is often more unexpected than expected. The unknown is out of our control. We don’t have the foresight or ability to stockpile enough resources in advance to prepare for every possible scenario.

We’re sometimes afraid to get our hopes up.

So how do we deal with this?

We place our hope in God’s future grace.

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Proverbs 23:18

Gifts Ahead

Thankfully, God does know our future (Jeremiah 29:11). And because He is good, He has good plans in place for what’s next (Isaiah 46:4). Even when bad things happen alongside them.

The Lord goes before us and plants good gifts in our future. He has more than enough resources and power to line it up and give it to us at just the right time.

  1. The Gift of Today

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:33-34

Once we believe in God’s provisions for tomorrow, we can better enjoy today. We can stay present, right here and now, knowing that God will handle our future. Does that mean we don’t plan for tomorrow? No. We still look ahead and prepare, but we don’t have to obsess about it and live in the future. We can live in the day.

  1. The Gift of Giving

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6

Once we trust that God will replenish our manna each day, we no longer have to hoard. We’re free to fully use today’s gifts today, knowing that tomorrow we’ll be given a fresh supply. Not wasting or misallocating our resources, but confidently using them in discerning ways. We are more free to meet others’ needs when we’re less consumed with getting our own needs met. Trust God to finish what He’s started in you.

  1. The Gift of Peace

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:21-23

When we worry about the unknown, we produce anxiety not only for ourselves, but also for those around us. Isn’t it more restful instead to hope in God’s future provisions? He promises peace to those who rest in Him (Isaiah 26:3). Hoping in His future grace is a vehicle for us to receive that peace in our lives.

God at Every Turn

Each of our lives is a path. Like Billy’s path in Bil Keane’s Family Circle, it’s not a straight line. We can’t predict each step and twist along the way.

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illustrated by Bil Keane

But what we can predict is this: God will show up at every turn.

We start at Point A. God is there. We unexpectedly go next to Point K. God has already been there, too, going before us, planting gifts along the roadside for us to pick up once we arrive. Maybe a new friend or a different job opportunity or a deeper spiritual insight.

These gifts of grace will help us get through the bad stuff, the hard stuff, and even the pleasant surprises.

We can’t know what each gift will be, or how it will be wrapped, or what time it will arrive. But we can know it will be good. It will be grace. It will be God.

Count on it. Get your hopes up. There are good gifts in your future.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:6

Get Your Hopes Up – There Are Good Gifts in Your Future. #hope

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What concerns you most about the future? What brings you peace about it? Please share in the comments.

Want to read more?

Download a free PDF of “Hope in Future Grace” scriptures

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Hope in Jesus is Hope that Purifies

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And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just a He is pure. 1 John 3:3

I don’t know about you, but I don’t often feel very pure. I yell at my kids on a nearly daily basis. I want to strangle my husband when he spends more than I deem appropriate. And I kick the dog when he gets in my way. And this just the beginning of everything that makes me feel less than pure. I easily get annoyed with the guy in Sunday school who just seems to enjoy the sound of his own voice and I find myself frustrated when the worship team plays another song I don’t know. These selfish reactions are not the way a pure person would react. Are they?

When I choose to focus on all my imperfections I can get so discouraged, even lose hope that I will ever be like Christ.

But, if I remember to put my eyes back on Jesus, the living and active Word of God, my confidence is restored and I am no longer ashamed of who I am.

I am loved.

I am a child of God.

When I look at the above verse in context I can plainly see these truths.

And know, little children, abide in Him that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3, emphasis added)

I know with confidence that I am a child of God because I abide in Him. And I know that I abide in Him because I practice righteousness. Now, don’t get me wrong here. I am not claiming in anyway shape or form that I have reached sinless perfection. Certainly not! I am very much a sinner, as I have already made clear with my confessions of petty selfishness. However, I do practice righteousness.

Have you ever heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”? It implies that we need practice because we aren’t perfect yet. So I practice righteousness now (failing often), hoping for and believing in a day when I will be sin-free, when my sanctification will be complete, and I will be pure as Jesus is pure. And I practice willingly now, even though I find it can be very difficult, because as a child of God I am no longer okay with my sin.

The last verse in the passage says “and everyone who has this hope in Him…” In Him… Not a hope in ourselves or our circumstances… Not even a hope in heaven or our future glorified state… But hope in Him “purifies himself”. Hope in Jesus is the only hope that will purify any of us. This is the hope that allows us to confidently say “Yes, I am a mess, but when Jesus comes I won’t be ashamed. He already knows everything about me. I’ve brought everything into the light as He’s asked me to (1 John 1:5-9) and He still promises to claim me as His!”

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just a He is pure. 1 John 3:3

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If I remember to put my eyes on Jesus, my confidence is restored and I am no longer ashamed of who I am.

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Friends,

Please remember that I am human and flawed and my thoughts on this passage and others may not always be right. Please hold what I write up against the Word of God and listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you directly. That said, I’m wondering if you are struggling to believe with all confidence that you are a child of God. I wonder if you struggle to believe that you are pure just as Jesus is pure. If so, please leave a comment or send me an email. I’d love to share some amazing truth with you. Truth about what Jesus has done for you and who He says you are as a believer.

Only by grace,

Kelli

God is Our Hope

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If someone asked you to explain what Biblical hope is, would you have a ready answer? After all, what does hope mean?

In English, the current definition of the noun hope is, “the feeling of desire for a certain thing to happen.” For its use as a verb, hope means “wanting a certain thing to happen.”

For some reason, to explain what hope is not, I’ve often imagined a farmer, looking at his dry, dusty fields, shaking his head in despair and saying, “I sure hope it’ll rain.” And what he means is, “I sure want it to rain, but I know it isn’t likely.”

In the Bible, we never read of hope with that definition. It’s not wishy-washy, or desirous of the unlikely. Instead, hope is a confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God. Hope always has a positive connotation.

(In the past, I’ve looked into the etymology of the word hope and found that some believe that there is a connection to the word “hop.” I love the thought of my heart hopping toward God, my refuge, in eager expectation and joyful trust!)

God is Our Hope. Why can we say this? And what does this mean to us as Believers? Read at DoNotDepart.com
With that understanding of Biblical hope, the Bible has much to say about God Himself being our hope.

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Psalm 71:5

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 43:5

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:24

And why specifically is God our hope? And what does this mean to us as Believers?

  • He is our hope because of His power.
    • His power means He can perform what He says.
    • Our hope is founded on His ability.
  • He is our hope because of His provision.
    • His provision means He will provide for us with His best for our eternal good.
    • Our hope founded on His loving care.
  • He is our hope because of His promise.
    • His promise means that His word is good.
    • Our hope is founded on His trustworthiness.
  • He is our hope because of His person.
    • His person is such that He is merciful, forgiving, faithful, good, and righteous.
    • Our hope is founded on His character.

He can overcome with His power. He can heal.

He can provide when there is no earthly way. He will make a way!

He can fulfill the promise that seems to good to be true. Grace? Strength? Wisdom? The hope of Heaven? Given!

He can do all that He has said in His word and more. Need forgiveness? or Reassurance? or To better understand His loving, sacrificial character? It’s in His word.

As women armed with this knowledge, we can be like Samuel’s mother, Hannah, who after pouring her heart out to the Lord in petition,

 “went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (1 Samuel 1:18 b)

Like her, we also can hope confidently in God’s power and ability to provide His best for us. We can rest in His trustworthiness and His good nature. We can leave all our concerns with the God of our hope, and with His Son Jesus who, logically (since He is the second person of the trinity), is also our hope. We can stand in hope– firmly planted in our God and Savior!

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 1 Timothy 1:1

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:9-10

Yes, our hope (our confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God) is safe and has a firm foundation because God is who He says He is and all of His promises are true. That’s something we can count on!

What does it mean to you that God is your hope? Tell us in the comments!

Ali

God is Our Hope. Why can we say this? What does this mean to Believers? Read more…

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Living Hope

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What does the bible say about hope? A series at DoNotDepart.com

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” – 1 Peter 1:3

In a world filled with worrisome sound bites and scary images, we have a desperate need for hope.

But what does it mean to have a living hope?

The Greek word zōsan (ζῶσαν) that is translated “living” in 1 Peter 1:3 means in this context “having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

The same term is used to describe the living Word in Hebrews 4:12 and 1 Peter 1:23. In Hebrews 10:20, the living “way” to God is through the person of Jesus Christ.

The hope that we have in and through Jesus Christ has power, and gives us strength. The more we fix our hope on Him, the more our hope grows!

This month the Do Not Depart team will be digging into God’s Word in pursuit of a deeper understanding of hope. What does scripture say? Where do we find hope? How can we live hopeful lives?

Do you have questions about hope? Share in the comments!

What does God’s Word say about hope? A new series at Do Not Depart. #hope

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Through the Fire

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We are pleased to welcome Susan Van Volkenburgh, author of Silent Resolve and the God Who Let Me Down, to our series “Where is God?”.

Imagine, if you will, that you are an Israelite in Jerusalem and the army of Assyria is encamped against your walls. All the nations around you have fallen. Jerusalem is the last city standing, your city, Zion, which God had promised to protect.

Isaiah 49:14 speaks of the people’s reaction:

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.”

Forsaken by God. Most of us have felt that way at one time or another. Even Jesus experienced this emotion when upon the cross He cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

I have felt forsaken.

Tuesday morning, a day like any other. It was a beautiful fall day: the air fresh, the sun warm, and the skies clear. As always the children and I began with Bible study. The day’s subject was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In discussing the three being placed into the fiery furnace for their unwavering faith in God, I made the cryptic statement that no matter what happens in our life, even when we go through the fiery furnace, still we must follow the Lord. I did not know that at that very moment my own life would be put through the furnace and my words tested.

The day was September 11, 2001. My life forever changed as my father was ripped from the world by terrorists. In that moment I felt forsaken. All that I had believed in, trusted in, was stripped out from under me. How could a benevolent God, a God who loves me, allow such a tragedy to happen knowing full well how this would wound me?

But hear what God spoke through Isaiah, the prophet:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.” (Isaiah 49: 15-16)

He has inscribed you on the palms of His hands…..

This is not just taking a pen and writing your name on His skin. You have been inscribed, that is, engraved. He has taken a blade and carved His palm, wounding His flesh so that forever He will bear the scars of your name upon His hands.

Not only does He know our name, but He bears our scars upon His flesh—forever.

Rubbing from the 9/11 memorial.
I have journeyed down a dark and empty road: alone, abandoned, and forsaken. But I have found something along this desolate way: a beautiful truth. My foundation is sure…and I am not alone.

I think the key is in the word “through,” for we do go through, we do not stay in the furnace. There is an end to our trouble. For even as the three young men stood within the flames of the furnace, they were not alone, but a fourth stood beside them.

We all face trials. We have difficult times. God never promised us otherwise. In fact, He told us that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33). But He did not leave us to travel this world without aid.

Listen what the Lord proclaims:

“I, even I, am He who comforts you.” (Isaiah 51:12)

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Though God’s protection is not always for our bodies, it is a constant for our souls. And in the end, it is our final home that is most important. This mortal coil, which we cling to so ardently, is not what it is all about. Yet when one that is loved is taken, we cannot help but look back at what has been lost.

“But I am the LORD your God,
Who divided the sea whose waves roared—
The LORD of hosts is His name.
And I have put My words in your mouth;
I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,
That I may plant the heavens,
Lay the foundations of the earth,
And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’” (Isaiah 51:15-16)

We serve a powerful God. An all-knowing God. So what then can man do to me? For the keeper of my soul watches me. We do not have a God who looks on from the outside as we struggle along the way. But we have a God who enters with us into the midst of the fire. He walks the troubled path with us, taking us through to the other side. He is our God and we are His people, engraved upon his hand: a perpetual covenant between the Lord and His chosen.

So as you travel the journey of this earthly life, remember: you are not forsaken.

Silent Resolve and the God Who Let Me Down by Susan Van Volkenburgh

Oncology Nurse turned homeschool educator, Susan Van Volkenburgh is an award winning author of Christian fiction and non-fiction books. As a musical evangelist, Susan travels with the gospel group, the Van Martins. After the death of her father on September 11, 2001, Susan began speaking of her experience. Her book, SILENT RESOLVE AND THE GOD WHO LET ME DOWN (A 9/11 story), recounts Susan’s loss and subsequent spiritual journey.

Born too late to experience antiquity first hand, Susan spends much of her time studying and teaching ancient history. Therefore, it seemed only natural that she should draw from the experience of grief and trauma to write THE STONE OF EBENEZER, Book 1: Trilogy of Kings Saga, a story of faith and restoration through the medium of Biblical fiction.

Have you felt forsaken by God? @SusanVanVolkenb has walked through the fire. #WhereIsGod

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Losing her father on 9/11 shook the faith of @SusanVanVolkenb #WhereIsGod #hope

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Easter in the Old Testament {a month-long series}

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Easter in the Old Testament {DoNotDepart.com}
Original photo credit (image has been altered following terms)

It’s coming.

We’re in this period of waiting now. Of repenting and preparing and hoping.

But Easter is just under a month away.

When we study Easter, we often read much more in the New Testament since it’s there that we follow Christ and His steps, His story.

But, we know that God had all of this planned before creation. So can we find Easter in the Old Testament, too?

This month, we will study a few passages in the Old Testament to see the hints at resurrection and restoration there.

What We Will Study

We will spend a majority of our time this month in Isaiah 53, reading about the prophecy of the Messiah. But, we will also look briefly at part of Ezekiel’s story of new life.

We invite you to join us, share with us, and grow with us in seeing the hope of Easter in everything we read, see, and do.

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” – Job 19:25

Other Easter resources here at DoNotDepart:

What verses in the Old Testament make you think of the resurrection and hope of Easter? Share in the comments below.

Can we find Easter in the Old Testament? Join @DoNotDepart for a look at finding the hope and resurrection of Easter in Old Testament verses:

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A new month-long series is starting at @DoNotDepart! Join us for a look at Isaiah 53 and Ezekiel for #EasterintheOT:

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The Prince of Peace with Peace for Today…

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Out of the many themes that are associated with Christmastime, this one resonates in my heart. Something inside me greatly desires peace.  I thrive on routine and habit… because, well there’s peace in that. I tend to get anxious when life’s hiccups happen.

And because that’s how God wired me, I’m so thankful to know the Prince of Peace Himself. I need Him… and I certainly need His peace.

Finding Jesus in the Old Testament, The Prince of Peace... with a printable Christmas ornament
And I’m not the only one who needs His peace– our restless world does. There have been so many tragedies lately. So much heartache. Whether it’s a massacre in Paris or San Bernardino on the news, a child sick with cancer on a Facebook feed, or personal unrest in any painful shape, I think we can all see a God-sized hole we could label “Peace Missing.”

But before we despair, we can turn to God. He is ever near us and He’s waiting to comfort us with His love, wisdom, and might.

And that’s what God did for the Israelites when they were at their most unrestful state. His chosen people were spiritually wandering away from Him and their sin invited both danger from the enemy and discipline from the hand of God (Dan:5-7). The northern tribes had been conquered by Assyria, and the Kingdom of Judah would soon be conquered by Babylon. The majority of the inhabitants would be driven as captives into Babylon, far away from the Promised Land, far from their homes, their culture, and from everything they knew.

Unrest. Lack of peace. Heartache.

But God stepped in. Through the encouraging words of Isaiah, God reminded His children that He hadn’t forgotten them and His peace hadn’t truly left. He had a plan that would bring joy and peace to each heart. His plan was personal, powerful, and would change the whole world!

6For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Oh, Jesus, the Messiah! What a promise of peace to the restless, fearful, broken heart!

Peace for You, Today

That’s why Jesus came down from Heaven 2,000 years ago to reach us. He didn’t want us to continue to stumble blindly. He wanted to offer the whole world His marvelous light. And while the Israelites had to wait about 700 years from these prophecies of Isaiah for Jesus to be born, today, we have ready access to the saving, peace-giving knowledge of Christ.

If we are ever on the brink of despair, we can remember that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. He is our Mighty God. He is the Everlasting Father. And He most certainly is the Prince of Peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14;27)

Jesus came to establish His heavenly kingdom. Many Jews mistakenly thought that the Messiah was coming to be a warrior King who would lead them to freedom from Roman rule– to bring physical peace between governments. But instead, Jesus came to offer each heart on earth (past, present, and future) eternal peace. Peace not like the world gives, but peace that comes from having the truth of His presence living right inside us.

And that peace within us flavors the way the think, the things we say and do, and the way we interact with others.

Peace gives us hope, satisfies us, and fills us with joy.

If you’re craving the peace of Jesus today, find encouragement in these verses:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)

“For he is our peace…, And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” (Eph 2:14 a, Eph 2:17)

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isa 26:3)

I pray that whatever your circumstances, His presence in your heart would bring you great Peace this Christmas.

Names of the Messiah - Printable paper Christmas ornament
And, as a physical reminder of who Jesus is (as described in Isa 9:6-7) our friend, Ashely Taylor, has made an elegant Christmas ornament as a gift for you. It’s very simple to print and assemble. We hope you’ll hang it on your tree — or wherever you need a little Christmas cheer!

How has knowing the Prince of Peace affected your heart and spirit?

Finding Jesus in the Old Testament: The Prince of Peace offers peace for you today! #FindingJesusInTheOT

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