"And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, 'Don't despair, for you have another son.'" ~Genesis 35:17, NIV
Jacob was tricked into marrying two wives, and because his heart was impure, God blessed the one he didn't love with many sons. But Rachel, the wife Jacob did love, only ever had two sons, and this verse describes the birth of her second.
She died after giving birth to him.
The hope of people way back in that day was that someday, their name would live on through their children. That was their immortality, their certainty. Jesus hadn't risen from the dead yet; life was their first and only chance. Having a son was more honorable, because the son carried the father's name, and thus the family "lived on" after death, as it were.
With this cultural background, the midwife told Rachel "don't despair". Today, we have an even stronger hope thanks to Jesus, an even more compelling reason to abandon despair.
Our families will not last forever, but those who believe and serve Jesus shall live forever, serving a loving God.
And remember: every valley has a bottom. And once you've hit the bottom, life climbs on the up and up. So don't let despair control your heart as you sink into a valley. We were not called to live our short lives in anguish. There's hope.
Please don't despair.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Day 304: Psalm 62:5
"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him." ~Psalm 62:5, NIV
Gotta love David. Even in the roughest times, he always chose to trust that God would rescue him. How do I know? I'd say the above verse (and many, many others) proves my point.
He tells his soul to find rest in God. And rest in Him generally breeds faith, peace, fearlessness etc. David chose to say no matter the circumstance, "my hope comes from Him" and surely God gave the old King hope!
When we choose to seek what is godly and not of ourselves, He rewards it (so long as our hearts are pure of course). Jesus' death is the only source of hope for life beyond this world. Think about it - in the darkness of the world (death, destruction, curses) Jesus still shines. He promises this isn't "it", that He's got more for those who believe.
And even if you think talking about Jesus is comparable to talking to a pink unicorn who gives candy to all of its followers, face it: without a life after death, what good is anything you do on this world? Trends have shown that it is going to pieces (cheers for entropy!), so what good is anything you do to prevent it from doing so, unless there's a greater purpose than running around as a bag of atoms?
Maybe I'm just deluded, but hey, at least I have hope :) You can choose to hope, no matter the circumstances. I would just encourage that hope to be placed in God, the only thing that actually has merit.
Gotta love David. Even in the roughest times, he always chose to trust that God would rescue him. How do I know? I'd say the above verse (and many, many others) proves my point.
He tells his soul to find rest in God. And rest in Him generally breeds faith, peace, fearlessness etc. David chose to say no matter the circumstance, "my hope comes from Him" and surely God gave the old King hope!
When we choose to seek what is godly and not of ourselves, He rewards it (so long as our hearts are pure of course). Jesus' death is the only source of hope for life beyond this world. Think about it - in the darkness of the world (death, destruction, curses) Jesus still shines. He promises this isn't "it", that He's got more for those who believe.
And even if you think talking about Jesus is comparable to talking to a pink unicorn who gives candy to all of its followers, face it: without a life after death, what good is anything you do on this world? Trends have shown that it is going to pieces (cheers for entropy!), so what good is anything you do to prevent it from doing so, unless there's a greater purpose than running around as a bag of atoms?
Maybe I'm just deluded, but hey, at least I have hope :) You can choose to hope, no matter the circumstances. I would just encourage that hope to be placed in God, the only thing that actually has merit.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Day 303: Psalm 61:4
"I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings." ~Psalm 61:4, NIV
Dear God,
As David surely knew, I trust You are the only one who gives full wisdom, courage and strength to people. I need that. But at the same time I need to know that I matter, that I'm not just a blob of atoms running around with no purpose.
I know when David felt that way, he would come before you, and I think that's why he says he wants to dwell in Your presence forever. Because You are good, and Your goodness radiates from whoever remains close to You.
And because You are good, You remove all evil from those who stay close to You. If fear is an evil, and I consider it as such, for it prevents me from coming as close to you as I could, won't You banish it?
Won't You protect me if I come to you?
Please do, for I am drawing close - and draw me closer!
Amen.
Dear God,
As David surely knew, I trust You are the only one who gives full wisdom, courage and strength to people. I need that. But at the same time I need to know that I matter, that I'm not just a blob of atoms running around with no purpose.
I know when David felt that way, he would come before you, and I think that's why he says he wants to dwell in Your presence forever. Because You are good, and Your goodness radiates from whoever remains close to You.
And because You are good, You remove all evil from those who stay close to You. If fear is an evil, and I consider it as such, for it prevents me from coming as close to you as I could, won't You banish it?
Won't You protect me if I come to you?
Please do, for I am drawing close - and draw me closer!
Amen.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Day 302: Deuteronomy 3:2
"The Lord said to me, 'Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.'" ~Deuteronomy 3:2, NIV
When the Israelites left Israel, they had instructions to move into their promised land and take what God had given them through His promise to their ancestor, Abraham. The Israelites had to wait forty years to fulfill this promise, however, because the people were afraid of the natives in the land.
After forty years they were ready to try again, and God reminds them of their past failing, and urges them not to repeat it. He also reminded them of their success, and commanded them to go forth without fear.
We are the same way, I'm sure - haven't you disobeyed once and had to pay for it later? And haven't you succeeded once, and when God tells you to do something similar, can't you call upon that memory?
God doesn't want us to live in fear, He wants us to take His promises and live out His purpose for our lives. Don't be afraid of that.
When the Israelites left Israel, they had instructions to move into their promised land and take what God had given them through His promise to their ancestor, Abraham. The Israelites had to wait forty years to fulfill this promise, however, because the people were afraid of the natives in the land.
After forty years they were ready to try again, and God reminds them of their past failing, and urges them not to repeat it. He also reminded them of their success, and commanded them to go forth without fear.
We are the same way, I'm sure - haven't you disobeyed once and had to pay for it later? And haven't you succeeded once, and when God tells you to do something similar, can't you call upon that memory?
God doesn't want us to live in fear, He wants us to take His promises and live out His purpose for our lives. Don't be afraid of that.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Day 301: Nehemiah 6:11
"But I said, 'Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!'" ~Nehemiah 6:11, NIV
Nehemiah was faced with a prophesy that told him people were going to come kill him. The prophet told him to go into the temple - God's sacred place - even though he wasn't a priest, for sanctuary.
Nehemiah knew two things: going into the temple would be an act of cowardice (he had been assaulted for doing God's work before, as we may remember from yesterday), and the prophesy could not have been true.
He had been given God's promise, a burden to carry. He could have run - it was the self-preserving thing to do - but it was not God's will for him. And neither is it God's will for his children, us.
God has a purpose for you, and it isn't to run away. He wants you to become His strong child, wise in His ways. There is a time for escape (Paul did it, Jesus did it) and there is always a time to stand for what you know to be true.
Choose your battles wisely, but don't run - just don't fight them all. And know the truth, so that lies don't intimidate you.
Nehemiah was faced with a prophesy that told him people were going to come kill him. The prophet told him to go into the temple - God's sacred place - even though he wasn't a priest, for sanctuary.
Nehemiah knew two things: going into the temple would be an act of cowardice (he had been assaulted for doing God's work before, as we may remember from yesterday), and the prophesy could not have been true.
He had been given God's promise, a burden to carry. He could have run - it was the self-preserving thing to do - but it was not God's will for him. And neither is it God's will for his children, us.
God has a purpose for you, and it isn't to run away. He wants you to become His strong child, wise in His ways. There is a time for escape (Paul did it, Jesus did it) and there is always a time to stand for what you know to be true.
Choose your battles wisely, but don't run - just don't fight them all. And know the truth, so that lies don't intimidate you.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Day 300: Nehemiah 4:14
"After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, 'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'" ~Nehemiah 4:14, NIV
Nehemiah was burdened by God, at a time when Jerusalem was in rubble because of the Babylonians, to rebuild the wall around the city. He got express permission from the king of Babylon to do so. However, the people from around Jerusalem, in neighboring countries, hated this idea.
They tried everything they could to stop Nehemiah and God's people from completing the wall, even attacking the workers themselves. Nehemiah was warned of the attack beforehand, and that's where this verse comes in.
Nehemiah of course had everything straight - he knew God had charged him with building the, wall, and build it he was going to. He knew God was with them, and that no one could stand against them.
Nehemiah was burdened by God, at a time when Jerusalem was in rubble because of the Babylonians, to rebuild the wall around the city. He got express permission from the king of Babylon to do so. However, the people from around Jerusalem, in neighboring countries, hated this idea.
They tried everything they could to stop Nehemiah and God's people from completing the wall, even attacking the workers themselves. Nehemiah was warned of the attack beforehand, and that's where this verse comes in.
Nehemiah of course had everything straight - he knew God had charged him with building the, wall, and build it he was going to. He knew God was with them, and that no one could stand against them.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Day 299: Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." ~Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV
A lot of times when we think of this wording, we remember Moses telling it to Joshua before Moses dies and Josh leads the Israelites into the Promised Land. But here, actually, it's way before Moses dies, and he's telling the whole Israelite community to follow God.
This promise applied to all of God's chosen people. And it applies to all of God's people.
God wants you to boldly serve Him and He wants you to do great things in your life. He promises to be with you, so why should you be afraid? Obey, see and know He is true.
A lot of times when we think of this wording, we remember Moses telling it to Joshua before Moses dies and Josh leads the Israelites into the Promised Land. But here, actually, it's way before Moses dies, and he's telling the whole Israelite community to follow God.
This promise applied to all of God's chosen people. And it applies to all of God's people.
God wants you to boldly serve Him and He wants you to do great things in your life. He promises to be with you, so why should you be afraid? Obey, see and know He is true.
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