Glory of the Lord over our Barn!

If you are visiting from Proverbs 31 devotions welcome!

Hopelessness knocks on every door, even spiritual giants. If we

succumb to the temptation to believe there is no hope- hopelessness is

given permission to rule us.

Hopelessness tempted me at a young age, but God graciously showed

me the way of escape. To this day when hopeless thoughts attempt to rule me–

I remember what I learned that day.

I had come home from school and found my mom lying on her bed in

convulsions. I called 911. On the way to the hospital I prayed that God

would save her life. Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given unto you…”

repeated in my thoughts. The rescue crew worked feverishly to get her

heart to beat. When we got to the hospital they put me in a little room

off the big waiting room. The doctor came in and told me my mom had

died on the way to the hospital.

My faith didn’t fail at this point.

The doctor took me back to see my mom. As I put my hand on her

foot, the flat line on the monitor showed a heart beat, then two. . .

She was put into intensive care, unconscious. My sisters, brother, and

I went to my dad’s house (who didn’t live with us).

I waited till everyone was asleep. I opened my Bible to II Chronicles

20. A vast battle was coming against the Southern Kingdom in Israel,

Judah. The battle was so over-powering that it would be impossible to

win. When Jehoshaphat heard of the battle- the Scripture says he

feared and sought God. He also proclaimed a fast in all of Judah.

Then, he gathered all of the people together and then started to praise

God for all He had done for them. Soon after, a prophet stood up in

the audience and said that the battle would not be their’s- but God’s.

A strategy came from heaven… The next day they put worshippers in

the front of the battle line, singing,

“Praise the Lord,

For His mercy endures forever.”

As soon as the worship started, the battle was won. Even as

a child, this charged my spirit. I read the same chapter over and over

all night, without going to sleep! I wept over this chapter, praying that

I would have the ability to live it, myself.

That morning, I got on a school bus exhausted from no sleep. I felt

hopelessness closing in on me. I didn’t know if my mom made it

through the night. What would happen to us? I thought how can I be

so hopeless when I was in His presence- ALL night??

My faith started to fail. The Lord whispered to my heart, “Will you

live it?” I prayed, “JESUS, this is too hard! I saw You do a miracle

yesterday and here I am today in total despair.”

Nothing in me wanted to worship. Absolutely nothing. I felt no

strength or power in my spirit. I was a goner. Have you ever been

there? A lifeless goner?

I stood up on the bus. I knew that in II Chronicles

20 they won the battle when they started to worship. I couldn’t sing a

lick and didn’t even know one worship song’s words! But, I was desperate to win the battle– so I started to

sing Amazing Grace (off key) and missing half the words. I noticed

that when I started to worship- the darkness lifted off. . . 

There’s a lot more to the story…

My mom lived and I learned a powerful truth. Psalm 34:17-20 “When

the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all

their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the

crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the

Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Mom and me at lunch this past week- Thank You Lord

To this day when hopelessness knocks on my door (and yes

unfortunately as long as we live in these flesh bodies we will have occasional hopeless

thoughts)- I remember what He calls me to do and do it!

1. Cry out to Him!

2. Worship Him!

3. Believe His Word and live it!

Hopelessness knocks on every door- even spiritual giants (Elijah, Job,

Moses, Peter…) If we succumb to the temptation of believing there is

no hope, then hopelessness is given permission to rule us. We

cannot allow hopelessness to rule- we have the key to

overcome it!

God graciously saves the crushed spirit- but we have a part to play.

We must do our part.

Are you in a battle? Is your faith being tested? Do you feel like a

“goner?” You’re in the perfect place for God to deliver you! Cry out to

Him. Worship Him. Believe His Word and LIVE IT!

What are you battling? We will pray for you! Your comment will enter

you to win the “Walk by Faith necklace and earrings AND Lysa Terkerust’s book- What Happens When Women Walk in Faith.