We all know times when we have felt like being in a cold, moldy, dark tunnel. It feels that in that place in time there is no way out. But with the words of Anne Lammott “hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don’t give up.”

You don’t give up and you cling to the promises of the Bible.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always! (Psalm 131:3, MSG)

Because like Catherine Marshall has said “God is the only one who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope.” That is so true. God can and God will lead us out of the pit.

Rick Warren states ”What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.”

Nothing is a surprise to God.
Nothing is unknown to God.
Nothing is hidden from God.

We can rest assured that God is in control and will lead us into the light, into the future full of hope.

This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.”When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.“(Jeremiah 29: 10-13, MSG)

No matter what is going on in your life: Don’t worry! God has the last word. Billy Graham assures “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.” Let’s cling on the promises of the Bible and believe that there really is light at the end of the tunnel!

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.(Hebrews 6:18, MSG)

 

Gracious God,
Thank you that your promises are valid and good.
Thank you for never letting go of us.
Give us hope, strength and peace
so we can hang on when the ride gets rough.
Let us feel your presence in the midsts of hardships.
Change the desperate feelings into
joy, hope and peace in you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How have you gotten hope in the midst of hardships?

Blessings to you, my fellow pilgrim, as you continue your faith journey. If your path is wandering in a beautiful valley, pass on love and hope. If you’re in a moldy tunnel right now, hang on tight: God is with you and there will be light!

Image courtesy of Alan Belcher. Parts of this post has been previously published in 2010. Linking up today with Heart & Home, Unite the Bloggersphere, and