Encouragement For When Your Hope is Fiercely Shaken
Devotions Encouragement

Encouragement For When Your Hope is Fiercely Shaken

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  • June 23, 2016
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After a long week of torturous waiting for test results to swing in my favour, and it didn’t!
 I was tired of fighting.
I was done filling the holes with hope.
 
This war is waged against my peace and this time I was overwhelmed. Those tormenting maybes and if only’s competed for my heart space.
 
Maybe I should have prayed harder.
Maybe I did something wrong.
Maybe there was sin lurking around.
Tears rolled down the face of a drained wrestler.
 
The one scripture that leaves me gulping my sputum. That same word dropped in my heart…
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:3
 
I wrestled in my heart again. “Endure hardness….Lord but how long?” Trying to reason
things out but I couldn’t come up with answers …or do I say… the right ones. My heart
was fainting of discouragement, “encourage my faith dear Lord…”
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Proverbs 24:10

“If I faint, my strength is small…Lord, I am weak and I am fainting…” 
 Then my wrestling ended. I found peace when I asked for strength to keep pressing on amidst these trials.
 
Are you going through the self-same thing?
Are you passing through turbulent times with your faith struggling and you are asking those hard questions?
 
The Lord knows when you are weak.
 
I want you to know, there is nothing to be ashamed of when the trials you face wearies you.
Friend, it is safe to rely on God in adversity. You can ask for His strength. (Psalm 6:2)
 
Let’s do this together;
Dear Lord, I ask for your strength, my heart faints, my eyes filled with tears…I am tired of fighting. Fight for me Lord. Take over every of my heart battles in Jesus name. Amen
 

I remembered Job. What an amazing hope he had despite God being silent for a long time! Those were longest and darkest days of his life, yet he chose God. I now see hope as choosing God over and over, no matter how bleak!

 Hope is Choosing God over and over!
 

Ever seen where a tree is cut down, yet God says there is hope for that tree…it will bud again…it will grow again…it will be fruitful yet again. All it needs is the scent of water. The scent of it!  Oh My did you catch that?

 
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like
a plant. Job 14:7-9
 

Prayer For When Your Hope is Fiercely Shaken

 Our Water of Life, Our hope in ages to come, Our Redeemer, Our Strength, we thank you for the hope and strength we have in You. We know You will make a way in this very difficult time. We choose hope and we choose you, Lord Jesus, over and over again. We are assured that nothing misses your attention, not even our pain or our heart cries. We look up to you with all that we have and with every fibre of our being. Oh Lord, reach us, touch us and heal us in the places where our hearts desperately calls for help in Jesus Name. Amen.

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  • Sometimes when things are hard or hope is hard to hold on to, life can seem incredibly daunting. I, too, find that if I look to a Higher Power in some way, I can often regain at least a little bit of footing before falling completely down. And, then it's just a matter of time before I'm walking upright and strong again! 🙂

  • Dear Ifeoma, I pray for God's unshakeable peace for you as you wait on Him. Thank you for sharing your faith and blessing others with your witness. May God's presence and protection always be with you.

  • Hi, can I sign up for your E-book announcement team? Thanks for all that you. Even in trying times, you bring hope and remind us of such wonderful scriptures to which to hold during own trying times. Thanks for linking up with us at the #LMMLinkup. 😉

  • Oh the questioning and doubting we do during these difficult periods of waiting! Just finished my own period of test after test, and waiting for the results. The attacks of the enemy are dealt with such precision, but you are right that hope is choosing God over and over. Praying for you on this journey, that you will continually feel God's strengthening and whispers of unwavering love in your heart! Love having you sharing your heart on Fresh Market Friday also!

  • Ifeoma I think we've all been there. In fact, some of my loved ones are there now. He takes the valleys and makes us strong. Hang in there. I have so many testimonies of how I would go thru all the pain again to be where I am now. Hugs.

  • I have been there, Ifeoma! I know that place! When I felt like I was losing my faith and hope…and God showed me that I wasn't, He was just rebuilding it into a stronger faith!! Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth. I'd love to feature your post tomorrow. Stop by to get the button!

  • I have been there, Ifeoma! I know that place! When I felt like I was losing my faith and hope…and God showed me that I wasn't, He was just rebuilding it into a stronger faith!! Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth. I'd love to feature your post tomorrow. Stop by to get the button!

  • Hope is choosing God over and over! – Amen! Thank you, Ifeoma, for this powerful testimony of God's hope when we are weary and feel we cannot wrestle anymore. I love seeing your hope-filled posts at Moments of Hope! Thank you for being an answer to prayer!!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

    • by: Dawn
    • 8 years ago

    What a beautiful and heartfelt prayer, friend. I needed to read this today and I stand with you in prayer. May He bring healing and wholeness to you in complete fullness.
    Thanks for sharing this at #GraceMoments Link up!
    Bless you,
    Dawn

  • What a wonderful reminder and an encouraging post! We have to be intentional about keeping our focus on The Lord when our faith is shaken. He is our hope and strength. Who could ask for anything more? Thanks so much for sharing. Visiting you from the Soul Survival linkup.

  • In our hardest and most difficult times, we must continue to place our faith and hope in God as you are doing. Blessings and prayers to you.

  • Wow! What a powerful post! Praying for and with you, friend! (And thank you for the verse in Job! …just the SCENT of water… amazing!)

  • Ifeoma, I so appreciate your post. And this? "Hope is Choosing God over and over!" Yes. Hope is choosing God, knowing He will guide, strengthen, encourage and help us when things in our lives seem to indicate otherwise. Your prayer was beautiful, too. Thank you!

    And thanks for stopping by my blog. 🙂

  • Beautiful, Ifeoma. Thank you for including the prayer at the end … so powerful! "Hope is choosing God over and over." I will remember that today! #RaRaLinkup

  • I have whispered these words over and over… sometimes cried them, sometimes screamed them…"How long? Please Lord, I can't do this much longer… help me…" He has always given renewed strength. I remember a time about year ago, though, when a well meaning Christian said something to me that literally took the air right out of me and destroyed any hope I had that God would ever intervene in my situation… and I began to live in some of the worst darkness of spirit I have ever walked through. Without realizing it, she had stolen the only thing I was holding onto – the only thing that kept me going every morning – Hope. "Now these three abide: Faith, hope, love…" We can't live without hope. It took another friend gently pointing out to me what had happened to restore what I had allowed to be taken from me. I walk in hope once again – and in light. This post shows depth and a heavy reliance on the Lord… it is full of hope. Thank you for sharing. <3

  • We had an almond tree, and each year it would be full of blossoms and almonds. While the nuts were still green and not good to eat, the squirrels would come and pick our tree clean. My husband decided to cut the tree down. The next year, the tree made a great effort to come alive and new branches began to grow. In another year they too began to blossom, and more nuts came. (And squirrels) This time my husband really cut the tree down. It was a lovely tree, determined to live – – but there were extenuating circumstances that we could not allow it to stay. Often our trials are like that, determined to take our very breath away. If you have the strength, it would be good to visualize the enemy at your feet and do a little stomping dance on him. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.

  • This one had me in tears. Which isn't good when your son is sitting beside you wondering what's up. However, these thoughts were exactly what I needed tonight!

  • Beautiful encouragement, Ifeoma. I'm so sorry to hear about the test results, but so thankful God is showing you that he remains faithfully beside you.

    Did you know that the Greek word to endure (hupomeno) has the word "abide" (meno) in it? Isn't that a beautiful thought…because ultimately we abide in Him because He has made His home in us…He will never leave or forsake us. Praying for you.

  • What a great word, Ifeoma!
    I love this line, "Hope is Choosing God over and over!"
    I'm sharing this one today on Pinterest and FB!
    Sure am blessed by you~
    Melanie

  • Ifeoma, your words are a healing balm today. Thank you for reminding me that God is always with me. I can pour out my heart to Him and He hears. He gives me strength to go through the hard things. Just this morning I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with things, but you remind me to hope in God. "Hope is choosing God over and over." Amen! Blessings to you!

  • Thank you for your vulnerability and words of hope today. You have a beautiful spirit of resiliency because you have God and He helps you get back up every time you are knocked down. Your openness touched me today and reminded me that God hears the worries of our hearts and we need to share them with Him. Blessings and prayers for you!

  • I love this! "Hope is choosing God over and over". Thank you for reminding me to choose hope today.

  • Praying you'll feel His whispering, 'peace, be still,' and that you'll be able to create that space to rest and simply be, dear Ifeoma.

  • I think it's so important to give fellow believers permission and validation for feeling weary. Often I think we expect ourselves to "handle every emotion and situation". Truly He makes us strong in our weakest moments. Thank you for sharing this with us and may God bring you much comfort! Blessings!

  • Ifeoma, prayed for you before commenting this morning. May God restore health and strength to you! Such an encouraging post. It brought to mind this verse: "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive cop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle bards are empty, YET I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" (Habakkuk 3:17-18, NLT)
    May God bless and use your book to bless many!

  • Thank for you this, Ifeoma! Even in the midst of your own battle, you are encouraging others. I so love that about you! I really needed to hear these words today as the battle I am facing is not physical but spiritual.

  • I'm so sorry to hear that your resting time is still not conquering the illness. Know that you are in my prayers – prayers that God will continue to bring hope to you in this desert place, and that you will see his footprints in the dry dusty sand. Do keep me posted on your progress. And congratulations on your persevering in this book project!
    Praying!

  • Boy, do we really need hope in those weary moments! Ifeoma, I pray that you will find God's strength to be enough for you, for His power is made perfect in your weakness. Be strong in Him, be real to those around you and continue to put your trust in Him.
    Blessings and hugs!

  • A wonderful reminder of our Hope is in the Lord, Ifeoma. Thanks for linking up with Thankful Thursdays.

  • Thank you for sharing your heart in a discouraging time! God is so good to bring that encouragement at just the right moment, isn't He? And, I too love that thought of just "the scent of water." It reminds me of the "mustard seed faith" that Jesus spoke of! May you be blessed today!!

  • Such encouraging words, Ifeoma! It's tough to find strength when we're face with such difficulties in our life, but your piece poignantly reminds us that we need only ask. Thanks so much for sharing this on #shinebloghop this week!

  • Encouraging words – thank you. Sometimes I feel like a tossed-about wave with my wavering hope. Thank goodness, we have a ROCK on which to stand. 🙂 I love the song, "My Everything" by Owl City and listen to it several times a week. If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend it!! It's on YouTube. The first line is, "When my hope is lost and my strength is gone, I run to You and You alone . . ." Blessings. 🙂

  • Congrats on your e-book. Michele is such a sweetie, I am so glad you had her help. I loved this post, especially when you said: I want you to know, there is nothing to be ashamed of when the trials you face wearies you. So beautiful and so true!

  • What a great reminder that He is our great hope! I loved the thought, "at the scent of water"! Thanks for your hope-filled words!

  • Hope in God never disappoints, but sometimes we have to fight to keep our thoughts there, don't we? It's a joy visiting you today. Best wishes with your book. #livefreeThursday

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