Alive and Hopeful
During stormy times in our life it is comforting to seek the Lord for direction and hope. For me it happened one winter afternoon in a cemetery.
I spread a green blanket beside my husband’s grave and plopped down. Opening my small Bible, I began to read it aloud, asking the Lord to again reassure me of His promises for my future. My husband had graduated to heaven recently and Christmas, just days away, would mark our wedding anniversary.
I began with Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Personalizing Psalm 121, I yelled into the wind, “The Lord is my Keeper. The Lord will protect me from all evil; He will keep my soul; He will guard my going out and my coming in forever.” Six times, that psalm repeats keeps or preserves, meaning God is my caregiver. “The Lord is my Provider. He will meet all my needs, according to His riches in glory.… The Lord is my Comforter…”
For the next thirty minutes. I decreed comforting psalms, warfare Scriptures, prophetic verses—all the while letting God’s precious Word minister to my heart.
The Lord seemed to whisper to me, “What do you see?” Looking around, I observed many gravesites and realized I was alone in the cemetery. Before I could respond to His question, His voice came again. “Everyone here is dead. You are the only one alive. So, get up and act alive!” Yes, that is what I had come to hear. My turning-around point. I would go home and celebrate Christ’s birthday and my anniversary.
That afternoon I declared: “The Lord’s keeping power will sustain me. I am alive and He will guide me on this difficult new journey.”
What about you? Do you have a desperate need? Why not let our heavenly Father minister to you through His Word? He has many hope-filled promises in it for you too!
Prayer: Lord, thank you that You never leave us nor forsake us.
Scripture: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you many abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NKJV)
Excerpted from Hope for a Widow’s Heart by Quin Sherrer, available on Amazon
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