| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Renewed hope” Our Bible verse for today: “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Renewed hope from their good examples” I’m so grateful to have known each of the four woman whose stories we have been considering for the last several days. Their strength and courage through adversity; their perseverance when it would have been so easy to give in and give up; and their strong faith and trust in God for whatever the outcome; I find their examples inspiring. It reminds me of the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” Of course, I was most familiar with the example set by my own wife, Linda. I draw strength and inspiration every day from the memory of how she lived with courage, determination, and perseverance. That was true of all four of those women. And it’s not merely the fact that they went through those trials that causes us to admire them, but how they did it. It was how they dealt with their challenges that so impressed us. So surely, if they could live the way they did facing the challenges they had to deal with, the rest of us can handle our challenges with similar strength and courage. For my part, as I attempt to gaze into the future and try to envision what life without Linda is going to be like in the months and years ahead, I admit that I can’t fathom it. Even after five months I still can’t see it. So, I need a verse like Joshua 1:9 to encourage me and to help me find renewed hope. God commands me to be strong and courageous, and to not be afraid or discouraged. I have to admit that sometimes I am not strong and courageous, and sometimes I am afraid and discouraged. But that’s okay; those are normal human emotions in a situation like this and to be expected. That’s true for me and for the other three men who are part of this story, but it’s also true for you too. Sometimes life is hard and the future is uncertain, and it is perfectly normal to struggle with uncertainty. But as God promised in Joshua 1:9 and in numerous other verses in both the Old and New Testaments, He is with us every step of the way. Not only that, but when you arrive in the future, He will already be there waiting for you. He is here now and He will be there then. Jacki, Gail, Linda, and Rebecca knew that truth and they lived by that truth. So now, the rest of us can draw renewed hope for our own futures thanks to the good examples they set for us. The lesson for us then, is to go and do likewise. Let us resolve to set a good example for others by the way we face our challenges today. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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