Hope in Help

It's a quiet Sunday morning today around our house. 

 I woke up, thinking about my husband who has been away all weekend on a junior high youth group convention.  He is due back early this afternoon.  My plan was to get the girls and my self to the 11 a.m. service, but when I realized it was 8 a.m. and not 7 a.m. (yikes....I had forgotten about "springing ahead" with the clocks!), and I heard my teenager coughing, I decided we were going to stay in so everyone could feel better!! 

 All 4 of us have been fighting colds for the last 2 weeks.  It is so funny how none of us became ill all winter long, and yet, with the start of spring, we all have had head-colds.  Mine is just a cough and Claire is on the mend.  Courtney, though, is at the beginning stages of a raging head-cold, so I think it is best to keep her inside today and make her some warm drinks.  Claire has a 2 hour musical rehearsal this evening, so she must attend that, as she was sick for Monday's rehearsal last week.  I am thankful that there are only 2 more weeks of rehearsals!  We will then have a nice break from that ministry, as it doesn't start up again until summer.  Claire is still trying to decide if she wants to commit to the summer show.  I told her it was up to her and that we needed to pray about it as well.

I am trying to teach my daughters that even in these "little" things, we need to turn to the Lord in prayer.  We don't need to pray about which cereal to eat in the morning but....we do need to ask Him to show us how to manage our time, resources, energy, etc. 

 And for Claire this means praying about the HizKidzPraise ministry.  It is a huge ministry to be involved in and lately I have not seen much spiritual edification nor that much excitement in a spiritual sense. (from her) She did tell me that she already knows she should not be in the ministry once she starts at the junior high school in 2 years.  I told her to take it one semester at a time and that the Lord would show her what to do.  I know she is thinking of the huge workload, academically, that the junior high school brings.  She also will want to be studying more ballet and join after school clubs so.....praying about these kinds of things is important.

This leads me to sharing about my morning devotions I just completed.  Both girls are still in bed and I just texted my husband that I would be staying home this morning from church.  Our church offers "online viewing" that is broadcast via the internet during the 11 a.m. service so I can always pop over there to our website and watch Pastor Rex preach!  

I turned to the Scriptures early this morning (again, thinking it was 7 when it was actually 8!) and while I sipped that first mug of hot coffee, I turned to the selection for the subject "Hope" that was listed in my Bible. The selection had me go to 2 Chronicles 32:1-8.   This is where Hezekiah finds out that Sennacherib is going to invade Jerusalem. Hezekiah proceeds to stop the springs so that the kings of Assyria don't find any water.  (a quick summary...please go to the Scripture and read the entire portion for your self...it is a fascinating piece of Biblical history!).

(a pic of Hezekiah's Tunnel, where historically,

the water was stopped...taken from Bibleplaces.com)

The part that spoke to me, personally, though was the Scripture where Hezekiah encourages the people:

"Be strong and courageous;  do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria.....but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles."  (2 Chronicles 32: 7a, 8b)

This led me to think about how the Lord really does "do battle" for us.  If we let Him!!!!!

And with that comforting thought, we have Hope!  I don't have to "fight" my daily battles by my self.  And with that comes the promise of Hope.  The Christian author Karen Kingsbury, who wrote the devotional to coincide with my Scripture reading today, says this:  "...all of us are leaving a battle, entering a battle, or right in the midst of fighting one.  But the hope is that we never fight our battles alone.  In fact, we don't fight them at all.  Hope lives and breathes in this promise."

We don't need to fear.  We don't need to be discouraged. Even when things seem to be the worst, we can remain strong and courageous!  Jesus is not just watching us or just cheering us on as we "fight"....He is the One who is doing the fighting for us!

Maybe you have a financial crisis or face mounting bills on a meager income.  Maybe you are dealing with a marital mess or a medical situation that seems hopeless.  Perhaps, like me, you are dealing with a strained relationship/friendship....or perhaps you are struggling with an addiction or depression.

No matter what your "battle" is.....turn to Christ!  Allow Him to fight for you.  Use your Sword (the Word of God) to stay connected with Him...spend time talking with Him and turning your daily struggles or issues to Him.  He will bear the burden and fight for you! 

With His Help comes Hope!

Be blessed today....HAPPY SABBATH!