|
Who against hope ‘Who against hope believed in hope.’ Romans 4:18 Disappointment and frustration are two words that are well known to Christians who live in this world. Often it seems that we take one step forward and two steps back. How true it is that when we would do good, evil is present with us. A good work may greatly encourage us for a while but then pride or some other sin gets in the way, and the discouragement we feel, overshadows any good that we may have done. Many of us feel that disappointment must be our middle name. We try our best, slogging away daily only to be slapped in the face with one disappointment after another. We question ourselves,
our motives, and our actions, and then we tie ourselves in knots
wondering what we have done wrong to deserve or warrant yet another let down. People will often
tell us that something better will come along but I know for a fact
that when relationships with other people are concerned that can prove
to be of little comfort. Some of the finest Christians I know, though, are single. Many of them are content with their portion, however there are a few that dearly long for a companion in this life. Their schoolmates were married long ago and they cannot but wonder why the Lord is leaving them behind. They feel like they are
aging on a daily basis. Their biological clocks go on ticking. Why
doesn't God bring the right person into my life TODAY? I remember many years ago, trying to comfort a Christian friend of mine who had just split up with her boyfriend. Both had applied for Mission work. The Lord wanted her to serve Him. There was no place for her boyfriend. She had to make the choice between her Saviour and the deep feelings in her heart. She came to stay with my
wife Ann and I for a week or so. She cried for what seemed like days on end.
Nothing I could say or do gave her any comfort. Sometimes it's just
better just to put your arm around someone and say nothing. This was one of
those occasions. Of course I didn't learn this lesson until I had
exhausted myself trying in vain to comfort her. God had in the meantime had been working in the heart of a young man. He had had him take a peculiar journey, travelling many hundreds of miles from his home. His heart and employment changed, though, along with his address. He had been a very successful insurance agent, but he found that he had to give that up. He had been taken from
darkness to light. A new song was now in his mouth and he wanted to serve His
new Master Jesus Christ in the work of the ministry. Months passed and
their friendship blossomed. Long walks in the summer evenings soon led to
a healthy romance. They married, and I cannot remember seeing a more radiant
bride. Now they serve the Lord
together in the place He chose for them. Perhaps today you are in a position where you are hoping against hope. It is not for the first time either. Many years have passed since first you believed and trusted, yet there is still no sign of your prayers or desires being answered. But think now - what could be more impossible than for a hundred year old man and his ninety year old wife to have another child? Abraham did not look at the impossibility. He simply took God at His word. That's what we have to do! Each day we must fight against unbelief and the temptation to give up. We must learn to rest in the words that our God has spoken to us. In that regard there are two verses further on in this chapter that I would like to quote to you. They contain words of great encouragement. I pray that you will take time to learn these two verses by heart and keep them as a special token of God's love for you. Repeat them to yourself whenever you are tempted to doubt, and learn to rejoice in the Unseen. They go like this:
'He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in
faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had
promised, he was able also to perform.' Romans Chapter 4 Verses 20 & 21
Author - Iain Mackenzie Edited by - Pastor Al Moak
|
|