Hope When There’s None Left (Genesis 50:20)
By: Betsy St. Amant Haddox
Today’s Bible Verse: As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
As I write this devotional, I have a friend who is grieving the rash decisions of her adult daughter. I have another friend mourning the sudden loss of a dear family member. Another is single, lonely, and pleading with the Lord to bring her a spouse. Another is reeling from the shock of her husband driving away with a U-Haul to “find himself.”
It seems everywhere we look, there’s disease, heartache, death, destruction, and pain. What hope do we possibly have?
Again, while writing this, I can look out my office window and see…snow! Piles and piles of snow. Did I mention I live in north Louisiana? My husband had to shovel off the windshield of his truck with a push-broom, because what else do we have? It’s a true delight. Who would have ever thought this was possible?
Do you know why it is possible?
But God.
That’s why.
Joseph understood. He eventually got to see that all his years of betrayal, grief, depression, heartache, rejection, abandonment, abuse, assault, jail, undeserved punishment, unfair treatment, lies, accusations, and loneliness were not without purpose. They were intentional. But God.
Whatever your situation is, you, too, can look right at it and say, “but God.” It doesn’t matter what the doctor says, what the weatherman says, or what the divorce lawyer says. “But God” is all you need to say or hear. He and He alone gives the final word. He alone delivers the final diagnosis and the final report. It’s never too late for a turn-around. After all, God is famous for working wonders in the midnight hour. Ask the Israelites. Ask Abraham. Ask Joseph. Ask your neighbor at church.
The best part is, regardless of the verdict of the Lord, we have another promise on which to hold. Even if things don’t turn the way we hope, we can not only trust that there was and is an eternal purpose being served, we also get to cling to the truth of Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
It doesn’t say “and we hope” or “and we really try to believe”—nope. It says, “and we know.” That’s it. Final word. We know these things to be true. And we know this promise will come into play as well through the workings of Romans 8:18 (ESV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
If the heartache of this world today is too much for your ears, tune it out by blaring God’s word. Whisper these truths to your weary soul. Saturate yourself in the Scriptures. Whatever you’re facing today, remember—But God.
Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of more than fifteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hero of a hubby, two total-opposite young daughters, a vast collection of coffee mugs, and an impressive stash of Pickle chips. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she’s not sweating it out at Camp Gladiator or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha—no whip. Look for her latest novel with Revell, The Key To Love. Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.com.
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