Has a certain circumstance left you feeling hopeless? No matter how much you pray, it seems as there is no change, no hope. Suddenly, you feel forgotten by God. Even worse, maybe those around you don’t seem to have an inkling of how to empathize with you. You just feel alone and misunderstood.
I always knew that I wanted to be a mother. In fact, folks used to call me “Mother Hen” when I was as young as 10 years old. So you can only imagine how very excited I was when I learned that I was pregnant. I was literally jumping up and down for joy. However, to my dismay, my world appeared to crumble just weeks later as I experienced the sorrow of miscarriage. How could this have happened? I prayed for this baby. I had already combed through chapters of baby books. I was ready to be a mother. My body writhed in pain and my broken heart was aching. To add insult to injury, hurtful comments were made to me; that bad things happened because I had done something wrong.
After the losses of his children and wealth, Job felt hopeless as well. He felt alienated and abandoned by his wife who told him to curse God. Job felt attacked by his friends’ words who were certain that his suffering was the result of something evil that he had done. Job loved God and was a righteous man. But he was filled with grief and he was frustrated.
In the midst of this anguish, Job recognized God’s sovereignty and His presence. He declares, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth” in Job 19:25. Job didn’t allow his feelings or his circumstances to cloud his knowledge of God. He knew who God was and that He is our Help and our Source whether we are at the mountain top or in the valley. And Job said that aloud not only to remind himself, but to drown out the voices that were not speaking truth or encouragement.
If you find yourself feeling hopeless today, stand on the truth that God is alive, He is for you, and that He has not left you or forsaken you. God loves you very much and He is your hope. He will lift your head my Friend.
~Joyce
*The pictured figurine was given to me when I experienced this loss and it has remained by my bedside ever since as a reminder that my baby is safe in the Father’s arms.
