How to Take Heart in Hard Times

by | Sep 7, 2021 | Devotional, Learning Story, Suffering, Weekly Gospel Meditation

How to Take Heart in Hard Times

Win books! This month, as we celebrate the one-year-birthday of From Recovery to Restoration, I’m giving away four books each week. See above for this week’s books. Enter for a chance to win. To have more chances to win, share about the book more often or share the excerpts on the blog and let me know how many times you shared. 

Today’s blog is an excerpt from the devotional. I’ll be sharing excerpts every week. You can continue to share and have chances to win different books each week. 

Be of Good Cheer

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NKJV

Here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, hurricane season threatens every year, tossing its mighty winds and roaring waters through our mind’s eye, arousing fears of future devastation and memories of past disaster. It’s been about fifteen years since Hurricane Ivan wreaked its havoc on our hometown, Pensacola, Florida, leaving a swath of blue roofs in its wake. 

We’ve recovered. But some never did. Some lost homes, businesses, even marriages to the disaster. They may have found a new home or started a new business, but the heartache of the catastrophe lingers. Maybe you haven’t been hit by a hurricane; maybe it was a divorce, a sudden revelation of a spouse’s affair. Maybe you were slapped with a cancer diagnosis. Or maybe your twenty-three-year-old has just renounced her faith.

The hard reality is that we may never fully recover from some of the disasters we endure. How can we live with hope in a world in which some losses will never be recouped? Jesus, in his final words to his disciples, anticipated this question. Shortly before his brutal crucifixion for a trumped-up crime, he prepared his followers for the disasters that mark life in a fallen world: 

“In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJV). 

Jesus’ words confound many of us, because western culture has fed us a lie: “This world is all there is,” it tells us, “and the things in it are here to make us happy.” Jesus contradicts this lie, telling his disciples, “Yes, in this world, you will suffer. I’m teaching you how to live in my world, my kingdom. Not only that, when I die and am raised again, you will have the resurrection power to live a different life, a new life, to recover what was lost in the fall. When you suffer, remember these things I have told you, and you will have peace. Not only that, you can be ‘of good cheer,’ ‘take courage,’ ‘not be afraid,’ ‘take heart’—because ‘I have overcome the world.’”

One day, not yet, but “soon,” Jesus tells us, I will return (Revelation 22:7). Then you will live with me in a new world, the world you were really made for. In that day, all of the pain and sorrow of the disasters you have faced will be washed away. All the sin—the clawing to get your own way, the clashing against loved ones over small differences, the clinging to things you think will satisfy you—it will be over. Overcome. Defeated. By me—your King. Love, Jesus. 

Dear friends, let’s take heart. There is something better that awaits. It is beyond recovery. It is restoration. It is renewal. It is reunion. Cheer loudly and long. Jesus has overcome the world.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for setting us straight. We are far too focused on finding joy in the things of this world. Help us to trust you when we suffer, to know that in you alone we will find peace and hope. In your cheering name we pray. Amen.

Further Encouragement

Read John 16.

Listen to “What a Friend” by Sara Groves.

For Reflection

What hope do you find in Jesus’ words to his disciples? 

Waiting with Hope

by | Sep 1, 2021 | Devotional, Suffering, Weekly Gospel Meditation

Waiting with Hope

Dear Friends,

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, I thought this excerpt from the book From Recovery to Restoration:60 Meditations for Finding Peace & Hope in Crisis would encourage hearts today. Please share it with someone you know who needs it. Also, be sure to sign up for the chance to win free books every week in September as we celebrate the one-year birthday of From Recovery to Restoration. 

Waiting with Hope

We too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:23b, ESV

Waiting for hours to buy gas after a hurricane.

Waiting for weeks for workmen’s compensation to authorize a surgery.

Waiting for months to recover from a heart attack.

Waiting for years to have one happy day after the death of a child. 

Whenever our stories are shattered by crisis, a season of waiting will likely follow. Waiting can be irritating at a long pharmacy drive-thru line, but in the profound losses of a crisis, it can be agonizing. What does it look like to wait with hope as we grieve our losses?

First we must recognize the difference between earthly hope and biblical hope. Earthly hope focuses on good outcomes in the here and now, or at least the near future. There is nothing wrong with such hope—hoping that the surgery is approved and that the recovery goes smoothly, hoping that the betrayal will sting less tomorrow than it does today. And yet, earthly hope is often limited by our own short-sightedness, our inability to see everything our all-seeing God sees. To all earthly hope, we need to add biblical hope.

Biblical hope, as defined by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman is a “vision of redemption in the midst of decay.” Biblical hope is based on faith, on remembering how God has rescued in the past: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV). Biblical hope focuses on the end of the story, the day when Jesus will return and restore all broken things (Romans 8:18-19). In that day, we will be restored to our Father as his adopted children, and all of creation’s groaning will end in fruitful labor, Christ’s perfected new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

When we wait with biblical hope, we will continue to pray for God’s good gifts on this earth: gas to fuel generators after a hurricane, a sweet memory on a loved one’s death day. Biblical hope leads us to pray, “God, if I don’t get the gas today, help me be patient and trust your provision,” or “If I am sad all day long, be near to me in my grief.” When our earthly hopes are disappointed, biblical hope compels us to look and lean toward the final day when “all things work together for good” in the lives of those who trust God for life and salvation (Romans 8:28). 

Dear friends, when the wait feels excruciating, remember that you have evidence that your deepest hopes will not go unfulfilled: Christ has already come to rescue and redeem. Remember what you are waiting for—glory itself!  Knowing this, keep hoping with an active imagination, leaning into the future, leaning into God’s loving purposes in our hardest waits.

Prayer

Lord,

How long? This is our cry as we wait in impossibly long lines or for seemingly improbable recoveries. Draw our eyes to the horizon, to see Jesus “coming soon” to end our grievous wait. In Jesus’ already-redeeming name. Amen.

Further Encouragement

Read Romans 8:18-30. 

Listen to “Spring Is Coming” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

For Reflection

How has waiting felt for you in this crisis? What earthly hopes have been disappointed? How might remembering the end of the biblical Story help you wait with patience?

A Prayer about Suffering for the Sake of Christ

by | Aug 26, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Suffering for the Sake of Christ

Father God,

Thank you for the Apostle Paul. 

What a strange and wonderful man he was, 

so markedly changed by Jesus Christ.

He spoke these words of farewell 

to his dear friends in Ephesus, 

saying basically, 

“I don’t know what will happen to me in Jerusalem, 

but I know I will suffer and be imprisoned” (Acts 20:22-23). 

He continued his farewell by saying, 

“It’s not about me” (ET translation Acts 20:24a), 

stating his primary purpose, his main goal:

“If only I may finish my course and the ministry 

that I received from the Lord Jesus, 

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Father, I confess, too often, 

my main focus is getting things checked off my to-do list, 

or praying for and supporting my children in their various needs. 

These are good things, but I want my focus to be on the best thing. 

By the power of your Holy Spirit, make me more like Paul….

no, scratch that—make me more like Jesus, 

willing to suffer 

so that many would know the good news about your grace.

In Jesus’ life-changing name. Amen.

Read Acts 20:17-38.

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A Prayer about Resurrection Joy in Seasons of Sorrow

by | Aug 25, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Suffering

A Prayer about Resurrection Joy in Seasons of Sorrow

Risen Savior,

I love this story about Mary Magdalene.

Not finding you in the tomb, she wept.

Then she turned to see you but failed to recognize you.

You called her name, “Mary.”

She heard your voice and recognized you. 

She embraced you as her tears turned to joy.

May we see you today as our risen and ascended Savior, 

occupying your heavenly throne, 

ruling over the brokenness in this world, 

redeeming in ways we can’t see yet. 

May we stand on tiptoes to look beyond 

what we read in the news or hear reported 

to see you coming “soon,” 

bringing the new heavens and the new earth with you (Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:7). 

When we see you as a risen, ascended, and returning Savior, 

we know joy even in the midst of sorrow, 

remembering that one day soon 

your kingdom of peace and justice 

and righteousness will reign forever. 

In your resurrected name. Amen.

Read John 20: 11-18; Revelation 21:1-5.

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Create a legacy that will give you and your loved ones peace today and in the years to come.

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A Prayer about Our Hope in Heartache

by | Aug 17, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Our Hope in Heartache

Merciful Father,

Some days it feels like the news will break our hearts: 

the numbers of young Covid patients sick and dying, 

the tyrannical rule in Afghanistan and the torment inflicted, 

the ravaging of the beautiful land of Haiti. 

In the midst of such misery, 

we remember Isaiah’s promise to the rebellious Israelites, 

that a redeemer would come.

Through Isaiah, Jesus shared his mission: 

I have come…

“to bring good news to the poor…”

“to bind up the brokenhearted…”

“to proclaim liberty to the captives…” (Isaiah 61:1).

“to comfort all who mourn…”(Isaiah 61:2).

to “build up the ancient ruins,”

“to repair the ruined cities…” (Isaiah 61:4).

Everlasting King, your son has indeed come; 

he has indeed completed his mission 

to begin your kingdom here on this earth. 

He has left us as his ambassadors to bring new creation hope. 

Work in us today, 

whether through 

giving or going, 

praying or planning, 

to bring your surprising hope

into this broken but redeemed world. 

Until the day Jesus returns 

to complete your full and final restoration.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 61. 

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Create a legacy that will give you and your loved ones peace today and in the years to come.

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A Prayer about Our Comfort in Grief

by | Aug 9, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Suffering

A Prayer about Our Comfort in Grief

[Hi friends, this prayer is based on Heidelberg Catechism Q. 1]

Dear Lord,

What a true comfort it is that in life and in death, 

in body and in soul, we belong to a faithful Savior, 

not just any savior, but a faithful One, 

who paid for our lives with his precious blood.

[Name your gratitude for how Jesus 

has rescued you from sin and slavery to the evil one].

Thank you for ruling over every detail of our lives, 

even the very hairs on our heads, 

and thank you for working all circumstances 

together for our salvation

[Name some circumstances you’ve seen him work together for salvation].

Thank you that your Spirit 

whispers firm assurances of eternal life 

and makes us “wholeheartedly willing and ready to live for you”.

[Name ways the Spirit has given you hope 

and empowered you to live for Christ].

In Jesus’ freeing name. Amen. 

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Job 12:10; Acts 17:27-28.