When all our hope has failed

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in what we plan and what we think we want for ourselves, that when all of it falls apart, we think we have failed.

It’s then that we can truly come to a place where we realize that there’s more in life than just us. As Rick Warren said in his book, The Purpose Driven Life: "It’s not about you"

While that is a hard line to accept, there is a truth that usually can only be recognized when we come to a place where we admit we have failed.  In this, there is sometimes more hope in the broken than the so called self-made successes…

God has a habit of being able to do more with a broken heart, church, person, etc than one that has "arrived".

So when "all hope as failed" look to see what unexplained, unpredictable thing that God might be getting ready to do.  Be surprised.  Be overwhelmed.  Because God is God and He can do what He pleases. 

We should be able to find comfort (if not just a little fear) in that. 

There is more good news though too.

God always has a plan "a", and never a plan "b" from here on.

Jeremiah battled with what God was going to accomplish with his broken, scattered nation and was given a promise. 

"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 a hope and a future." - Jer 29:11

So, are you broken, weary, ready to give in?  Have you failed, forgot, misplaced the trust that you once had?  Do things look bad, hopeless, miserable?  Are you sick, needy or poor?

When they were overcome with the Egyptian army and about to be crushed and driven into the red sea, the Israelites looked to Moses and asked, "were there no graves in Egypt, why did you bring us out here to die?"

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  - Exodus 14:13

They were scared and ready to give in, but God didn’t want to show himself to be a mediocre God either.  He could have easily had the Egyptians all fall sick and die before they ever reached the Israelites, but instead he blew back the water, they crossed on dry land and when they all crossed the water flowed back over the Egyptian army and they were all killed.  

I can think of a few problems in my life I pray that God would work in miraculous ways too.  But I’m not sure it’s at the point where I have to trust God completely yet.  Yes, the church is having financial issues, yes, we just lost 3/4ths of our take home pay this last month. 

Even so, I am only beginning to trust.  I am only just learning what faith is.  Bring on the hardship.  Bring on the pain.  My God can handle it.  The Egyptians are closing in, and the water looks awfully deep. 

"God, If it helps me to understand you more, if it helps me to trust you and to have faith in you, I want to be closer to you despite what it may cost."

That’s a hard prayer to pray.  Did I say "good news"?