Relentless HopeSample

Day 3: Stay Connected to the Word

So often, people turn to friends, social media, and self-help gurus before they ever turn to the Word of God to see what God has to say about their situation. The Word of God must be the first place we turn to in the middle of our desperate moments, and we must learn to process everything through the lens of God’s Word.

My last pregnancy was filled with bad news from the very beginning. The funny thing about doctors is that they will find every way to tell you bad news; mine would update my online portal, call, and email me. It felt like every time I turned around, there was bad news! Because I was a high-risk pregnancy, I also had to go to the doctor’s office every two days, so I had plenty of chances to listen to my doctor give me bad news. At one point, it was suggested to me that I think about all options for my pregnancy, and I had to battle waves of despair and hopelessness that would try to take over me. No one’s good wishes or catchy Instagram posts were helping me battle that, either. I wanted to hear what God had to say.

In Hannah’s time, the priest spoke on behalf of God. This is significant because when Eli spoke to Hannah, it was like she received a word directly from the Lord. Once Hannah made it known to Eli she was in the temple pouring out her soul to the Lord and crying out from a place of anxiety, he spoke to her these words:

“Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” (1 Samuel 1:17)

This may seem like a small statement, but it changed Hannah! The Bible says, “Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (1 Samuel 1:18)

Hannah came into the temple crying out to God, full of anxiety, weighed down by years of unanswered prayers, but she left a different person when she encountered the Word of God. The Word of God pierces through our body, soul, and spirit. When you are crying out to God for prayers that have remained unanswered, the Word of God brings hope the world can never bring. The only way to have an unbending expectation in the character of God is by staying connected with God’s Word. This is why Paul explained that faith comes when we hear God’s Word. If you want to build your faith, read your Bible.

Strive to go deeper in His Word daily and ask that God speak to you through His Word every time you read it. Here are a couple of reminders in the Word about who God is and what He does for us:

-redeems us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)

-will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6)

-heals us (Isaiah 53:5)

-He is a refuge and strength in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1)