Holston Devotional Series | October 5, 2019

October 5, 2019

by Ben Harding

Supply Pastor of Coeburn UMC (Coeburn, VA)

Appalachian District

Have you ever felt like life kept throwing punches at you? The relentless encounter of inconveniences, adversity and sometimes even tragedy can break and beat you down to the point where you don’t know what to do. However, you’re not alone. Let’s look at Lamentations 3:19-26 (NRSV);

19 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
    is wormwood and gall!
20 My soul continually thinks of it
    and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul that seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

As we can see, the author informs us that their current situation is a very bitter and depressing situation as noted by the remark that their soul is bowed down within themselves. However, they take the time to recall that the Lord’s love for us never ends. His mercies know no limits, therefore ensuring us that we have hope through all things we may face. This is just as evident in the story of Jesus healing the two blind men just outside of Jericho.

In Matthew 20:29-34, Jesus encounters two men as he is leaving the city of Jericho. Though these two gentlemen are told by the crowd following Jesus to be quiet, they made their petition to Jesus for healing. They knew what their situation was, but they were just as driven to seek healing because they also knew who Jesus was. In their hope that they would be healed, Jesus showed compassion and touched their eyes, immediately regaining their sight.

Life will throw punch after punch. Sometimes these punches will land a hit and knock us down. Though we are beaten down, we gain strength to continue through our hope in The Lord, as we will be granted victory and salvation through our hope and waiting for him.

I pray that in whatever it is you may be facing that you retain your hope in The Lord Almighty. Blessings and peace to you, today.