The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:25-26
Sometimes we feel as if our hope has run out. I know that when I get to that point, I find myself feeling frustrated, sad, and overall low. It affects my mood, attitude, how I perceive the world, and my actions. It is less than pleasant.
The thing is though, that as a part of God’s family, we are never “out of hope.” This verse in Lamentations is another reminder that when we place our hope in God and in His will for us, we can be assured that He is working for our good. He is providing, protecting, and planning for us even in the darkest of times.
So how do we feel that hope in those times? Where do we find it? Because the truth is, there are times and going to be times, it will feel like hope has run out. When we don’t have control over situations, and they haven’t worked according to our plan. Or the situation has filled us with grief and pain. We cannot pretend that this is not reality, and we must be prepared for them because the devil would take great joy in us believing that the light of hope has run out.
This verse tells us exactly what we need to do. We need to seek God. Seeking Him through prayer, reading Scripture, spending time with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and attending church are all ways we refill ourselves with hope. The side effect is growing closer to God and strengthening our faith both of which contribute to building our hope-our knowledge that things will eventually be okay.
Lysa TerKeurst wrote, “You steer where you stare.” In times when we feel our hope running low, we need to check where we are looking. Are we looking at the past, only the negative, all we don’t have? This is why so many people talk about practicing gratitude. It exercises our hope muscles for times we need it. When we look at our blessings, it is a start to refueling us. When we look to the Lord, we can find all we need. We simply need to seek Him.
I encourage you to reflect on what you typically do when you feel low on hope, and think about ways to seek Him first. The side effects are endlessly positive.
Prayer: Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the blessings you provide me each and everyday. Thank you for the living hope I have in Jesus and in your Word. When I am running low on hope, I ask that you give me a Spirit of thirst for You that I may seek You through prayer, Scripture, and other believers so I can be renewed.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen