Day 8 – Issue 18

Be Still Know

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

‘I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.’

As I’ve aged, so my capacity for hope has diminished. Life’s experiences, together with unrealised ambition of my own, have left an imprint on both my heart and spirit. Some of my friends, speaking of their experience, have expressed this change as the loss of idealism. Life has instructed them in realism and they’ve let go of the dreams of their inexperienced youth. Now, if life has a series of hard knocks, then where is God and how is God to be perceived in the realities of life?

Jeremiah, opening his story of the decline and destruction of Judah, makes it clear that his testimony is of one uniquely crafted in the womb by God. In recognising my origins, and then keeping a firm hold on that truth, I can recall my purpose in the darkest of days. That purpose is that I am, have always been, an intentional creation of God, creator of all. The challenge is maintaining this perspective when all appears to be falling apart around me.

Finding hope when I discover I haven’t the resources, opportunity or skills to challenge and change my circumstances is difficult. All too easily my inner resolve crumbles and I become depressed by the bleak present and darkening future. Current circumstances appear far from the promises I’ve embraced during my walk with God. My faith is destabilised and I’m tempted to throw off my former life as idealism.

My strong tower is God, who remains available to the reach of my faith. My direction of travel lies beyond the scope of my ability and within the hands of God; yet, for what end? Perhaps none that I can create any meaning for; apart from reminding myself that I am uniquely crafted by God and for the service of God.

QUESTION: What do you hope for and what have you placed your hope in?

PRAYER: Sovereign Lord, may the ground of my hope and confidence be in you.