Devotions

Abundance of Hope

Are you like me and love to sit in the sun? March of 2019, my husband and I were able to go on vacation to Mexico. For the first time in thirteen years we left the responsibilities of our jobs, our home and our kids behind. For five glorious days we basked in the sun. There was an abundance of sunshine. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky the entire five days we were there. The abundance of the sunshine was amazing! It sounds so simple, but did you ever think about the abundance of the sun? There’s plenty for everyone, you get as much as you want, it warms you up, gives you vitamin D and (if you’re like me,) it just puts a smile on your face. You don’t have to work for it, it’s simply there to fill you. There is comfort in the embrace of the sun, as it warms the body and kisses the face. Keep that warm embrace of abundance in your mind as I continue.

There are seasons in our lives when we experience abundance but often it starts with the opposite. In our lives we will experience suffering. In our suffering we often ask the question why. Why did I loose my loved one so early? Why am I sick? Why did I get let go from my job? Why did I grow up in a broken home? Why do I have to live with anxiety, depression, disease? The list is endless. I’ve been there asking why. Have you? The reality is we’ve all been in a season of suffering or two (or three or more.)

Psalm 66:10-12 says, “For you O God tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

“….but You brought us to a place of abundance.”

Psalm 66:12

The verse says He tested us, He brought us into prison and laid burdens on our heads, and let us go through fire. Here’s where we would ask…”But why?” And the answer is right there. It says to bring us to a place of abundance. There’s our answer. More importantly, there’s our hope! We don’t ask why simply for the answer. We ask why for the hope.

Romans 5:3-4 says, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character hope.”

Have you ever heard of someone speak of their hardships, and end with, “but I wouldn’t change things if I could?” It’s because of the result of the abundance of the Holy Spirit. The abundance Psalm 66:10-12 speaks of, comes from the intimacy we experience with God and can only experience in the fire or in our suffering.

We don’t simply ask why for the answer. We ask why for the hope.

Growing up when asked what I wanted to be, I would say a mom. My dream was to have a family and that desire only grew the older I got. After a few years of marriage, my husband and I decided we were ready to expand our family. It took us awhile to get pregnant, (God had already started working on my heart to trust in His timing.) When we found out we were pregnant we were so thrilled, our dreams were coming true. Four weeks later, our dreams were crushed with the experience of loosing our child. It was only a few months later and we realized we were expecting again. This time we were already four weeks past the point of loosing our first. We were able to see our baby wave to us at our twelve week ultrasound. Everything looked good. The ultrasound tech said she was almost positive our baby was a girl. I had the privilege to carry my second child for fourteen weeks. At that time, I experienced a physical and emotional pain I thought I’d never have to endure. I was in the fire, I had nothing left in me. I grieved the loss of my children and my dream. I became depressed, confused and I questioned why. As I wrestled with my questions, God met me there. And soon enough, He calmed my anxious heart and I was brought to a place of humility. The intimacy I experienced with God was something I hadn’t experienced before. He softened my heart, He picked me up and lifted my weary head. My timeline was no longer important because through His Truths I gained a deeper trust. I was filled with an abundance of the Holy Spirit.

Here is how I have learned to look at Psalm 66:10-12. Suffering brings us to the end of ourselves. We become weak, fragile, confused and unable. As we keep our eyes on Jesus and surrender control we experience His strength, power, focus and ability in us. When we loose ourselves, we gain more of Christ. We become more like Him. We start the process with nothing (empty) and as we are refined through our sufferings we end with abundance.

If you’re in a time of suffering, it’s OK to ask God why. The Bible says to draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Search the promises He has made to you. He will meet you there, right where you are. You will then experience hope in your suffering because you will gain an abundance of the Holy Spirit.

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