“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.”
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
The confident assurance of hope is rooted in God. Can you picture a husband and father who lost his job? Everyday he goes about the city trying to find employment. He is very willing to do anything but no one wants to hire him. Can you identify with his despair and grief? He drags around the house in utter defeat. His face wears a permanent shadow. He sits in a stupor staring off into space. It seems that he has lost his vigor for life.
This story could just as easily be a wife and mother. It is extremely stressful trying to adjust to rejection and loss no matter who it is.
Someone has said, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings before dawn breaks.” Now, picture that defeated person telling the story to Jesus. Watch as a song breaks forth in the warmth of the Lord’s dawn. Change will began to occur. Hope will begin to shine and with hope ideas begin to flow. From ideas decisions will ignite. And action begins to restore the vigor for life.
I may not understand why my circumstances are disappointing. I may not know how or why they change for the good. But I know that I can trust God. I have the confident assurance that my hope is sure in his care.
Dear Father, thank you for the faith and hope that you give. Strengthen me with your assurance and confidence. Enable me to be a reflection of your light and a song in your breaking dawn. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his confident assurance and live in constant hope,
Pastor Smith