Thola i AppHope: A Courageous Journey of FaithIsampula
DEVOTIONAL - TODAY'S DISCUSSION
Some days, all we can do is hide in God's word. Hiding in His promises of hope when little is around, hiding under his cloud of grace when few give us grace, and remaining hopeful of an eternity where pain and sorrow are replaced with springs of living water "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelations 7:16-17 NIV)
Keep faith and hope for Jesus' return. Be watchful for today, mindful to walk along God's path as tomorrow all believers may be home for eternity with those who have gone before us "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End." (Revelations 22:12 NIV)
So what do we do today? Paul tells us in the book of Romans our answer is perseverence "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5 NIV). God loves us in ways we cannot understand. When we feel alone or abandoned, God is with us, our Emanuel.
FROM "TAYLOR'S GIFT" THE BOOK
One morning when I woke up, I had the usual question of why. Why swirls and never stops at an answer. Just like the mornings before it, on this day I moved past the why only to land in more dark thoughts.
The cycle was starting again. I looked above our bedroom door. We’d hung a crucifix on the wall when we moved in years earlier.
Though God and I still weren’t talking, I focused on the cross and tried to concentrate on my thoughts to get out of the darkness swirling around me, but my mind remained confused.
I picked up a book near my bed and opened it—a devotional. I looked at the page, but the words just swam and ran together. I closed the book and looked back at the cross.
I felt so abandoned by God. I was lost and alone, and not even the God of the universe cared. Somehow, one clear thought made its way out of my fog.
This is all for Your glory. It was so distinct from everything else swirling in my mind that I said it out loud. “This is all for Your glory.”
For someone who wasn’t talking to God, it was at once jarring and peaceful at the same time. Then I said it again. “This is all for Your glory.” And again. “This is all for Your glory.”
Soon, I was repeating it over and over. Even as I said it out loud I thought, How can this ever be for Your glory? But somewhere in the saying of it I believed it, and I started to cry.
I didn’t have any answers, but for some reason, I had a tiny bit of faith. “This is all for Your glory!”
TODAY'S REFLECTIONS
No matter what your situation is today, will you go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to carry you close to His heart?
In your moments of doubt, confusion, pain, or suffering, shout to the Lord "This is all for Your glory!" And then rest in faith that He is with you, your Emanuel.
Some days, all we can do is hide in God's word. Hiding in His promises of hope when little is around, hiding under his cloud of grace when few give us grace, and remaining hopeful of an eternity where pain and sorrow are replaced with springs of living water "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelations 7:16-17 NIV)
Keep faith and hope for Jesus' return. Be watchful for today, mindful to walk along God's path as tomorrow all believers may be home for eternity with those who have gone before us "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End." (Revelations 22:12 NIV)
So what do we do today? Paul tells us in the book of Romans our answer is perseverence "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5 NIV). God loves us in ways we cannot understand. When we feel alone or abandoned, God is with us, our Emanuel.
FROM "TAYLOR'S GIFT" THE BOOK
One morning when I woke up, I had the usual question of why. Why swirls and never stops at an answer. Just like the mornings before it, on this day I moved past the why only to land in more dark thoughts.
The cycle was starting again. I looked above our bedroom door. We’d hung a crucifix on the wall when we moved in years earlier.
Though God and I still weren’t talking, I focused on the cross and tried to concentrate on my thoughts to get out of the darkness swirling around me, but my mind remained confused.
I picked up a book near my bed and opened it—a devotional. I looked at the page, but the words just swam and ran together. I closed the book and looked back at the cross.
I felt so abandoned by God. I was lost and alone, and not even the God of the universe cared. Somehow, one clear thought made its way out of my fog.
This is all for Your glory. It was so distinct from everything else swirling in my mind that I said it out loud. “This is all for Your glory.”
For someone who wasn’t talking to God, it was at once jarring and peaceful at the same time. Then I said it again. “This is all for Your glory.” And again. “This is all for Your glory.”
Soon, I was repeating it over and over. Even as I said it out loud I thought, How can this ever be for Your glory? But somewhere in the saying of it I believed it, and I started to cry.
I didn’t have any answers, but for some reason, I had a tiny bit of faith. “This is all for Your glory!”
TODAY'S REFLECTIONS
No matter what your situation is today, will you go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to carry you close to His heart?
In your moments of doubt, confusion, pain, or suffering, shout to the Lord "This is all for Your glory!" And then rest in faith that He is with you, your Emanuel.
Mayelana naloluHlelo
This 21 Day Reading Plan will take the reader through a journey of hope during trying times, despair or tragedy. The reading plan is built from the critically acclaimed book, Taylor's Gift: A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope.
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