Hope in the Midst of Waiting Daily Devotional 28 October 2023
BASIC SCRIPTURES: JOB 14:14; JEREMIAH 29:6-14
Scriptures:
- Job 14:14 (NIV): “If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.”
- Jeremiah 29:6-14 (NIV):
Verses 6-7: “Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Verses 11-14: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Devotional: ODM Daily Online 28 October 2023 – THE PILOT CAME OUT INTACT! HOLD ON!
Hope in the Midst of Waiting
In the book of Job, amidst immense suffering and grappling with the meaning of life, Job poses a profound question: “If someone dies, will they live again?” It’s a question about life after death, about hope beyond the trials and tribulations of this world. Job’s longing for renewal resonates with the human heart’s innate desire for hope and restoration, especially in times of despair and difficulty.
Jeremiah’s prophecy to the Israelites, exiled in a foreign land, echoes a similar sentiment. God’s assurance through Jeremiah speaks of hope, promising a future despite their current circumstances. In the midst of their exile, God encourages them to build, to grow, to pray for the prosperity of the city they’re in, assuring them that in the prosperity of the city, they will also find prosperity.
Life often places us in seasons of waiting, where answers seem distant, and hope can dim. Yet, these passages remind us that in the waiting, there’s room for growth, for prayer, and for seeking the welfare of others. God’s promise in Jeremiah offers a vision of hope and a future, assuring us that His plans are for our prosperity, not harm, and to provide us with hope.
While we may not immediately see the outcome, these verses encourage us to trust in God’s timing and promises. They remind us that in the waiting, there’s purpose. It’s in the waiting that our faith is refined, our character is shaped, and our hope in God’s faithfulness deepens.
As you navigate your own seasons of waiting or uncertainty, take heart in the assurance of God’s plans for your future. Embrace this time to seek Him wholeheartedly, to pray for not only your own welfare but also for the well-being of those around you. Trust that just as He remained faithful to the exiled Israelites, He will also be faithful to lead you through your waiting to a place of hope, renewal, and purpose.
May you find strength and perseverance in the assurance of God’s plans for your life and the hope of renewal, even in the midst of waiting.
Amen.