Weekly devotional - Our eternal hope lies in you, Lord

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

As we face waves of bad news in the media about COVID19, hurricanes and wildfires ravaging our America, even as believers our faith sometimes fails. We know in our hearts that God is sovereign and strong. We can believe that His plans for us and for our loved ones are for our good, but doubts persist.

We forget that the very God who created this entire universe, who holds the stars in place, and knows the exact number of hairs on our head, also knows our ways. He knows all that is happening around us, too. He can line up our pathways to cross with others He wants us to meet. He can open doors that leave us surprised at how they open. He can close doors that He knows are not the best for us. He has a plan even in the hard things we face.

His favor rests on us as we seek after Him first, and He holds the power to cause things to happen in just a moment, things for our good and not harm.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Please know this: our greatest blessings come after the greatest times of testing. Throughout Scripture, we see God turn around for good the difficult pathways of those He loved. And He still works the same today, for He never changes.

Life today will stress us out. We somehow start to believe that it all depends on us. Like maybe we blew it, messed up and got ourselves off course. We spin our wheels trying to find a fast way out of trouble. We feel like it's up to us to make things happen.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Yet, take heart! We are children of the King. He reigns supreme, giving favor, guidance and blessings to all those who seek after Him.

Let’s pray:

I come to you, Lord, knowing that my prayers are powerful and they fall at Your throne on my behalf and that of my family and friends. I ask for your mercy and grace, your peaceful presence, over them and me, all of us bathed in your lovingkindness. I know that even in our struggles, you are with us every hour of every day. You are always there, carrying our crosses with us, never leaving or forsaking us. You are our safe place and refuge. Nothing now, nothing in the future, nothing in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from your love through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.