Hope in Utter Despair

Christmas Tip #3:

Prepare a Mission Heart Hug shoe box for the wives of military spouses. Sponsored by Encourage Her Ministries, you can prepare a shoebox and drop them off at any local Chick-fil-A. (My preference - Cary Towne Center Chick-fil-A. This is my brother-in-law's store!)

Luke 1:7

But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Last Christmas season, I was in unbearable despair and hopelessness. A tidal wave of fear, deep uncertainty and unrelenting insecurity had been crashing upon me for 3 1/2 solid years and I was at a breaking point. It seemed my prayers were merely hitting the ceiling. I ran out of ways to pray - I even lost all desire to pray. Many days, I felt hopeless.

To make matters worse, the devil was merciless - constantly kicking me when I was down. Tempting me to turn my back on deeply held convictions:

• "Why not have that glass of wine? God doesn't care about you," I'd hear in my ear at Christmas parties and gatherings.
• "Why not watch that rated 'R' movie? God's abandoned you, plus it's only a little profanity and nudity," I'd hear.
• "Why are you still getting up for your quiet time when God's not even listening?" was another lie I'd hear.

This is just the tip of the iceberg! HOWEVER, with all the might and strength I could muster up, I'd reply with a script that I'd memorized, a script that was helping me to hold onto Jesus despite His apparent silence - a reminder that: "God loves me. He will be faithful to me."

Over and over again, I'd pray it, think it and say it out loud. I was truly holding onto my faith by a strand. I wonder if this is how Elizabeth felt...

She was barren. Jewish homes were meant for children, lots of them. They represented security and social status. We read in Luke 1:25 that she faced "disgrace among the people." Month after disappointing month, year after year - no child - and then menopause! Hope was all but gone. Surely Elizabeth felt like her prayers were hitting the ceiling - where was God? Didn't He see her everyday obedience? Didn't He see her always doing the right thing, even when no one else was watching?

I'm challenged by Elizabeth because she NEVER gave up on God. She was never bitter towards God nor felt God owed her for her faithfulness. The quality of her character was never compromised by the degree of her painful circumstances.

It's easy to think that God has abandoned us in our seasons of despair and is with us only in abundance. However, God is never closer to us than when we've been kicked down by life. Often God does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to. But we have to persevere and trust Him, just as Elizabeth did. We have to trust that God truly has our best interests at heart. WE have to believe that God can and will do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.

By the way, God did abundantly more than I could have imagined following this very low period. Even though my faith was a small as a mustard seed - He showed up in a miraculous way. Hang on dear friend. KNOW that God loves you. KNOW that as you are faithful, you can count on Him to be faithful!

Be Encouraged! Love,