X You have left Christian Women Today, click here to return.
Subscribe Subscribe
Daily Devotionals »
Ways To Give

Hope Restored Along the Way

Written by Max Lucado

Feel like you’re losing hope? Contact us anytime to talk.

 
icon for podpress  Hope Restored Along the Way [2:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

What would it take to restore your hope?

What would you need to reenergize your journey?

Though the answers are abundant, three come quickly to mind.

The first would be a person. Not just any person. You don’t need someone equally confused. You need someone who knows the way out.

And from him you need some vision. You need someone to lift your spirits. You need someone to look you in the face and say, “This isn’t the end. Don’t give up. There is a better place than this. And I’ll lead you there.”

And, perhaps most important, you need direction. If you have only a person but no renewed vision, all you have is company. If he has a vision but no direction, you have a dreamer for company. But if you have a person with direction—who can take you from this place to the right place—ah, then you have one who can restore your hope.

Or, to use David’s words, “He restores my soul.” Our Shepherd majors in restoring hope to the soul. Whether you are a lamb lost on a craggy ledge or a city slicker alone in a deep jungle, everything changes when your rescuer appears.

Your loneliness diminishes, because you have fellowship.

Your despair decreases, because you have vision.

Your confusion begins to lift, because you have direction.

Please note: You haven’t left the jungle. The trees still eclipse the sky, and the thorns still cut the skin. Animals lurk and rodents scurry. The jungle is still a jungle. It hasn’t changed, but you have. You have changed because you have hope. And you have hope because you have met someone who can lead you out.

Your Shepherd knows that you were not made for this place. He knows you are not equipped for this place. So he has come to guide you out.

From Let the Journey Begin: God’s Roadmap for New Beginnings
Copyright (J Countryman 2009) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: How does God comfort you when you start to lose hope?

About this Author: Max Lucado

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Email Print

No comments yet

Leave a Reply

Start a Conversation

Refreshment for a life of ministry

Media

Image for Connecting Through TechnologyConnecting Through Technology

Do you use technology to stay in touch with family and friends?

>Watch
Image for Choosing to SimplifyChoosing to Simplify

Voluntary simplicity – a choice to consider.

>Watch

Latest Comments

  • shea said: Can't find the section that i went to to read the different... Read More »
  • LAC said: please pray that i will grow in grace and have closer and... Read More »
  • sharon b said: yes some times I am bad about trying to rush ahead of God Read More »