Oceans in the Desert

Kathi Pelton

Seasons—

The seasons of our lives ebb and flow with both beauty and heartache— this is true for those who are believers in Yeshua as well as those who do not yet believe. Yet, for those who believe, these ever changing moments have one unchangeable aspect that anchors them through every scenario: HOPE.

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”” Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭

In Zechariah 9:12 God call us, “prisoners of hope” and with that is the promise of restoration,

“Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” Zechariah‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬ ‭

I often find myself overwhelmed at the beauty all around me: the sunsets, the grass waving in a field, a couple holding hands as they speak wedding vows or when I look into the face of a baby.

I am equally overwhelmed when my eyes and mind are shocked by something that suddenly interrupts that beauty with an unexpected twist that reminds me that sin and death has been intermingled with the beauty of God’s creation. Seeing it or experiencing it can feel like a punch that takes your breath away.

Lamentations 3 begins with the first 20 verses describing the pain and suffering that Jeremiah had been facing. Cruel and unrelenting pain. Then it is as though he pauses or takes and long breath before beginning verse 21,

“Yet, I will dare to hope when I remember the faithfulness of the Lord…”

I WILL DARE TO HOPE!

Why? Because we are not only prisoners of hope but we are surrounded by the Lord’s faithfulness— for it never fails and never changes. Though sin and death have entered the world— it did not enter his faithfulness. It has not interrupted his promise of redemption or of beauty being restored. His faithfulness will win and has already been secured through his resurrection.

When we are forced to look in the face of the enemy that has polluted creation and God’s created people— we must do as Jeremiah did— pause, breathe and decree.

I will hope in the Lord and his faithfulness!

Not in man’s faithfulness, not in the faithfulness of the moments before you, not in the riches of this world— but in God’s faithfulness that has surrounded you.

This is your hope! In both the beauty and the tragedy— his faithfulness remains true and sure. This is my hope! And this is the hope that will never disappoint.

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