Abundance In The Bush - Country DevotionsSample

Rising Hope

The proud parents’ Christmas letters came each year, recounting Jon’s progress from toilet training to graduating from Kindy. At the end of each year, Jon’s school achievements glowed from the pages of family news. Then one year, the family letter didn’t come. Just a simple ‘seasons greetings’ card. The next year, not even a card. What do you write about when Jon has dropped out and a wave of consequences from failed relationships and drug addictions are eating him up? His parents’ once proud hearts are broken, pummeled by the torment of failure and a ton of guilt.

Cheeky’s third foal took a lot out of her so the foal was weaned early. Poor Cheeky wandered the paddock for a few weeks, looking like a dejected has-been. Then we put the saddle on her and immediately that old light shone from her eyes as if she was saying “Yes! Let’s get going. Show me the cattle.” That light was a wonderful sight... With a purpose in life again, hope rose in her heart and shone out of her eyes.

Have you stopped writing your Christmas letters? Are you feeling like a ‘has-been’, with regret and failure hounding you? It is possible to overflow with hope once more. Take your eyes off those humanly unsolvable problems and saddle up again. Just for Jesus. Re-discover your purpose and your place in His heart. Nothing you have said or done or failed to say or do can change your place in His heart. He is totally devoted to loving you.

I pray that once again, hope will leap in your heart and shine from your eyes as you know that you, just you, are all important to Jesus.

P.S. Cheeky is retired from mustering and is now part of a wonderful ministry, whose motto is ‘Healing Horses Helping Hurting Humans.’ It’s never too late for you!