Prisoners of Hope
By Megan Conner
Bible Reading:
“Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” – Zechariah 9:12, NIV
Does your life feel out of control? Are you longing for safety and security but still feel exposed? Perhaps, you have tried every possible solution, but none have brought about resolution. You have clawed, fought, pleaded, built, torn down… anything and everything to find respite for your exhausted mind, heart, and soul. Still, there is no relief. Despite the uncertainty and possibly discouragement, you have not given up hope.
If that is you, hear the call of God today, “Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you” (Zechariah 9:12, NIV).
When I first read this scripture, it stopped me in my tracks. Prisoners of hope. What an incredibly powerful connotation. Incarceration, in any form, is typically associated with some pretty negative contexts. However, the concept of being held captive to hope offers assurance, not imprisonment. It alludes to security, to provision, to a refuge. It is a bold promise from God that if we remain in Him during times of trouble, He will deliver us from the darkness and restore to us the joy of our salvation.
This declaration from the Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, comes right after the foretelling of the coming Messiah. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey,” (Zechariah 9:9, NIV). This prophecy was penned approximately 500 years before the birth of Jesus, yet it clearly speaks of the Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem. There, He journeyed toward death on a donkey while the people shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9, NIV).
It was fulfilled just as it was foretold. The King came and redeemed mankind. With His own blood, He opened wide the fortress of God and called us all in. He is the Word and in Him, we can find all the security we need. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:5). When we enter into the fortress of the Lord, we receive His external covering, but internally welcome Him into our own hearts. It is His residence within us that allows us to be imprisoned by this living hope.
Peter in his letter to believers scattered abroad, describes the active assurance granted to us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ and God’s promise to shield us with His power until our salvation is tangibly claimed in eternity.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time,” (1 Peter 1:3-5, NIV).
This is why we cannot forfeit hope. We are prisoners to it. For no matter what goes on in this life, we know there is a good God who gave His only Son to ensure we would be safe with Him. Keep holding on to hope, friend. You are held. You are loved. You are safe.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NIV).
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you a prisoner of hope? If not, what circumstances or disappointments are preventing you from trusting God? Take some time today to consider at least one of those individual struggles. Write it down in your journal or on a notecard. Then, next to it, write the final scripture in today’s devotional, Psalm 46:1. Every time you feel tempted to despair, read that scripture as a reminder that God is present and offering you strength.
Further Reading:
Zechariah 9:9-17
Psalm 46
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Boonyachoat
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
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