Daily Devo
Don’t Lose Hope!
By: Keefe Wilson
Monday, April 15, 2024
Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid, do not lose hope, I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIRV)
While we were in Okinawa, we were privileged to hear a young woman's deeply moving testimony about not losing hope in God. Her husband stood beside her holding her hand as she described how long they had been married and how wonderful their marriage was. But she also said it had not always been that way... Then she said she spent many years praying for her husband's salvation, but the more she prayed, the worse his behavior got! He eventually had an affair, left her, and moved into an apartment. Her heart was shattered, and it left her hovering on the edge of hopelessness until the Lord led her to Joshua 1:9. God's Word reminded her not to lose hope.
Then she described how the Lord prompted her to stand outside her husband's door and tell him she was not giving up on their marriage. He shut her out and threatened to involve the authorities, but she persistently knelt outside his doorstep each night to pray for their marriage. Weeks passed, but one evening, as she prepared to knock, the door swung open, and her husband stood before her with tears in his eyes. He told her he was sorry and begged for forgiveness. Then, he shared how God convicted him and that he surrendered his life to the Lord earlier that day!
Their situation is a great reminder that since God is eternally faithful, He doesn't want us to lose hope (1 Corinthians 1:9). So, what is hope? It isn't escaping from reality; it's an active trust that God's is always faithful to fulfill His promises, even when our circumstances seem bleak. Joshua was told that since Moses was dead, he would be the new leader of God's people. God knew that Joshua was afraid and hopeless, so He told him not to lose hope. Why? Because He promised to be with him wherever he went. We must understand the same promise God made to Joshua; He makes to all Christ followers.
But how do we hold on to hope? The key is to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). When we focus on God's promises rather than our problems, we'll find a hope that transcends our circumstances. Then, through our prayers and the reading of scripture (Romans 15:13), we find our hope in God. His Word reminds us that He is the source of all hope and is able to replenish our hope when it wanes.
Christ follower, no matter what situation you are in, don't lose hope!