CWW Week 17 - Day 1 - Hope
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Scripture.
Lamentations 3:24
“The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him.”
Devotional.
It’s been a tough night. Yesterday I spent much of my thought on where to go with this weeks devotionals. Praying for God to show me the topic for the week, I needed to have something before I woke up this morning, and I could not find anything that jumped off the pages at me.
I went to bed ahead of Michelle to get a good nights sleep and had just dozed off when she burst into the room with some terrible news.
Our dearest friends, who have been on the recovery journey with us for almost two decades had contacted Michelle to tell us that their youngest of five children had just been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Their daughter is in her twenties and has two gorgeous children.
AML is an aggressive cancer that can spread quickly. As we prayed in bed and talked about the prognosis, we felt a sense of dread. But while we are not God, we do have His eternal hope and the faith in His promises especially Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Our friends are no strangers to shocks and setbacks. My mate has survived cancer himself and the family have stayed off bankruptcy and survived the collapse of their business. They are beautiful warm Christians with a wonderful family, and are members of a great family centred church. I know that their prayers will always be in the claiming of God’s great hope regardless of the outcomes, and they will be a shining example of God’s infinite grace on this journey.
But what happens if our prayers in this situation are not answered in the way we want them to be? Naturally we will all be praying for a complete recovery but what if that doesn’t happen? If things don’t go the way of our prayers we often blame God because He is supposed to have infinite power. Why would He allow bad things to happen to good people like our friends?
The journey for them that began last night will bring them and the countless others they come into contact with closer to God no matter what happens. I know this because I know them. I know that they have enough faith to stand strong even if their lovely daughter does not have the best outcomes. God needs people of a strong faith like this, who have enough faith not to be delivered.
This disease, gleefully and happily administered by evil, will have a profound effect on so many people as this chapter plays itself out. Knowing them as I do, one thing is certain. God will bring so many to Him through His grace and mercy acted out in them. Since we four started our recovery journey together two decades ago we have seen that God never wastes a hurt. The next couple of years will be a sweeping example of how God can turn the strategies of the devil against him as He thwarts the plans of the enemy. Our friends were there every step of the way when Michelle almost died and they were part of the group who anointed her when she was near death.
I have heard some christians say that sick people who struggled did not have enough faith to be saved. Yes it’s hard to imagine this kind of ignorance from professed people of faith but it exists. Surely real faith is demonstrated in the God given courage to deal with adversity no matter what the outcomes. That kind of faith can truly move mountains.
My favourite hymn is a clear example of everything I am saying here.
It Is Well With My Soul.
Horatio Spafford’s story is a profound testimony of faith and resilience, and it is closely associated with the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” Here’s an overview of his life and the hymn’s origin:
Horatio Spafford’s Life
1. Early Life and Success:
- Horatio Gates Spafford (1828–1888) was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago. He was known for his Christian faith and philanthropic efforts.
2. Personal Tragedies:
- 1871: The Great Chicago Fire devastated much of the city, including Spafford’s real estate investments. Despite this significant financial loss, he continued his charitable work.
- 1873: Tragedy struck again when Spafford’s four daughters—Anna, Margaret Lee, Elizabeth, and Tanetta—died in a shipwreck. His wife, Anna, survived the disaster. The ship they were on, the SS Ville du Havre, collided with another vessel and sank. Spafford received a telegram from his wife, which included the now-famous line, “Saved alone.”
3. Writing of the Hymn:
- After receiving the news, Spafford decided to travel to meet his grieving wife in Europe. During the voyage, when the ship passed near the location where his daughters had perished, Spafford wrote the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.”
- The hymn reflects his deep faith and peace despite the unimaginable loss. It is believed that he wrote the words in a moment of deep reflection and prayer, expressing a profound sense of peace and trust in God.
“It Is Well with My Soul”
Verse 1: When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
We have a great hope in Jesus Christ. He will sustain us as we navigate the perils and sweet joys of love and of loss.
Lamentations 3:24
“The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him.”
Questions.
- Do you trust God to deal with the crashing waves of your life?
- Are you prepared to hand it all over to Him and let go and let Him?
- Do you have enough faith to stay in a strong relationship with Him no matter what the outcomes?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
I don’t know how to deal with the heavy seas that are likely to be heading my way but I know that You do. Please Papa, strengthen me as only you can. Fill me with your eternal hope knowing that you have all my bases covered no matter what the outcomes that lay ahead. Give me the peace of Horatio Spafford that will hold me as the sea billows roll. I can only navigate this journey in You Papa, so please have mercy on my soul and guide me, is my prayer in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Graham Hood
