THE SECRET TO FINDING HOPE

Blog

THE SECRET TO FINDING HOPE

Saturday, February 18, 2012 • Catherine Martin

Dear Gentle Friends~

You're in for a special treat with my new friend, Catherine Martin, today's guest author on Gifts by Grace. From the moment I learned about Catherine's ministry and stepped into her world of nature and nautical beauty, I got caught up in her powerful message. Catherine's authentic, warm presentations, whether under towering trees or dreamy waterscapes, will nourish your spirit with God's Word. Join her now for blessings for your quiet time.

One of my favorite books is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. If you've read the story, then you know that nothing went right for Alexander. He did, in fact, have a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

And finally, Alexander concluded, "I think I'll move to Australia." The book summarizes the lesson for all readers: some days are like that, even in Australia.

I love Alexander's story because he grapples with the challenge we all face: how can we overcome the inevitable obstacles and difficulties in life? How can we live our lives with purpose and meaning? For the Christian, the questions drive more deeply to the heart. How can we rise above our circumstances, and walk victoriously in life's storms, giving great glory to God?

I believe these questions are most important because if we can discover how to make it through difficulties, then we can keep running our race in life and victoriously cross the finish line.

Let's face it-there are days when everything is turned upside down. Sometimes difficult days stretch into seemingly impossible years. And saying we're "fine" can often mean, "freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional." So how can we make it through the day with more than passive resignation? How can we run our race with blazing hope?

I discovered a secret during one of the most difficult years of my life. I'll never forget receiving the news that my precious mother had fallen and broken her neck. That accident launched our family into a year of long days in the hospital and many painful moments. Happily, my mother's neck healed. But after a year, I felt weary and downhearted.

One morning, as I sat alone in my quiet time with the Lord, I opened my Bible and asked the Lord to speak to me. My reading that day was Lamentations 3:21-23. Jeremiah, whose difficulties broke his heart and made him weep, wrote, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope." When I read those words, I thought, "Hope! That's what I need." Now, with great interest, I wanted to discover Jeremiah's secret to hope. He continued, "The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

I leaned back and thought about these words and why they gave Jeremiah such hope. Then the Lord showed me the truth. They are promises about God-who He is, what He does, and what He says. When I receive a promise from God, if I will embrace it, trust it, and live it out in my life, I will have hope.

The promises help me trust God more, for they reveal truths about Him (Psalm 9:10). Paul confirms in Romans 15:4 that it is the encouragement of the Scriptures that give us hope. And what is hope? Hope is holding on with patient expectation.

Discovering hope in God's promises was like a new day for me. I began underlining promise after promise in my Bible. Those promises breathed new life into my soul and gave me the ability to hold on and move through my days with refreshing hope.

There is great power in the promises of God, for they are the living Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). God's promises will help you gain the eternal perspective-the ability to see all of life from God's point of view and have what you see affect how you live in the present circumstance. When you find a promise in the Bible, your gaze moves from the temporal to the eternal. Then, the Holy Spirit applies the promise to your heart and gives you strength to draw near to God, experience His power, and make it through difficult trials.

For example, if you are living in fear, grab hold of Isaiah 41:10 and you will realize that the Lord is with you and He will help you. If you are going through a painful time in your life, embrace Psalm 34:18 and you will discover that the Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. If you feel as though life is over, trust Jeremiah 29:11 and know that God has plans for you that include a future and a hope.

Today, dear friend, will you step away from the busyness of life to have some quiet time with the Lord? Then, open God's Word, grasp His promises, embrace His power, trust His words, and find hope when you need it most.

Catherine Martin

Catherine Martin, a graduate of Bethel Theological Seminary, Founder of Quiet Time Ministries, and a Director of Women's Ministries is dedicated to teaching devotion to God and His Word. Her many books include Six Secrets To A Powerful Quiet Time, Knowing and Loving the Bible, Walking with the God Who Cares, Set My Heart on Fire, Trusting in the Names of God, Passionate Prayer, A Woman's Heart that Dances, A Woman's Walk in Grace, and The Quiet Time Notebook™.

~ If you are new to quiet time with the Lord, be sure to sign up at http://www.quiettime.org/ for 7 Days To Energize Your Quiet Time, 7 days of free power-packed helps for your quiet time.

~ Don't miss Catherine's devotional posts @ Cath's Blog and @ A Walk In Grace photo journal in Cath's Community @ http://www.quiettime.org/caths-community/

~ Connect with Catherine on her Facebook fan pages @ http://www.facebook.com/catherinemartinfanpage for the Quiet Time Verse of the Week ™ video presentation.

~What does author and speaker Catherine Martin do all day? Find out on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/catherinemartin

~ Subscribe to The Quiet Time Live Channel on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/user/quiettimelive for myQuietTime ™ - Catherine's special weekly video about her quiet time.

Book Giveaway - from those who comment on this post, we will choose 2 winners of Catherine's book, Walking With The God Who Cares-Finding Hope When You Need It Most.

Thank you, Catherine! And thank you, friends for visiting. We're delighted you joined us today at Gifts by Grace.

Visitor Comments (9)

Thank you

Posted by JEAN • Sunday, February 19, 2012

Thanks to Catherine for an inspiring post and to Barbara for bringing it to us. Blessings to both of you, Jean

So Thankful

Posted by CATHERINE MARTIN • Sunday, February 19, 2012

What a privilege to be able to share God's Word and the amazing promises of hope. I love all your insights, Scripture, and comments. You have encouraged me. It's really in the trenches of difficult times where we faithfully stand strong when others give up. We hold tightly to God's Word when others walk away. And the temptation to falter is strong at times, but we have His magnificent promises. And we all have our days, just like Alexander. But finding, embracing, trusting and living out God's promises through the power of the Holy Spirit and His matchless grace keeps us journeying on with Jesus, strong and steadfast. I'm so thankful for you! You are those faithful ones, who are growing in His grace (2 Peter 3:18), and will have the honor of experiencing His incomparable joy in His Presence. Blessings and love, Catherine

Blessings, Melinda!

Posted by BPARENTINI • Saturday, February 18, 2012

Thank you, Melinda, for stopping here today. I knew you'd be lifted up by Catherine's message. Please watch her videos--chock full of God's Word and encouragement. I know you'll be blessed. May God's face shine on you now and in the days ahead. Love and blessings, Barbara

I've had a day like Alexander

Posted by HEARTCURES • Saturday, February 18, 2012

I'm so grateful that I was directed to this post. I've had a day that leaves me at a loss for words. And, I'm certain, it hasn't been the first and won't be the last. In reading this, I am reminded that God's Word never changes and that His promises never fail. I needed to hear that at this very moment. Thank you so much!

Precious Post

Posted by ANGELA BISIGNANO • Saturday, February 18, 2012

Love taking the time to reflect on God and to spend time with Him each day. I agree, we do find our hope in Him and His Word. I especially appreciated Catherine's definition of hope in this post, "hope is holding on with patient expectation." Thanks for a precious post.

Thank you for sharing!

Posted by BPARENTINI • Saturday, February 18, 2012

Thank you for sharing your heart with more verses from Lamentations. There is much hope in the words of this book, and Catherine's powerful message. I hope you'll return again to Gifts by Grace! Barbara

I like Lamentations 3:21-26!!

Posted by KJCHASE • Saturday, February 18, 2012

I'll just share 24-26 so you can see how gooooood it is! "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul;therefore will I HOPE in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man both HOPE and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Holy, Holy Holy is our God. Mighty, Mighty, Mighty is He! All our HOPE is in Him!

Thanks!

Posted by BPARENTINI • Saturday, February 18, 2012

Sandy, thank you so much for pausing at Gifts by Grace today. Isn't Catherine Martin a rare gift? Her ministry is a now a rock of encouragement for me, too. I'm honored you shared your thoughts with us, and hope you'll return, again and again. I trust that Catherine's message continues to bring you comfort and hope in the days ahead. Love and blessings, Barbara

Lamentations and Hope

Posted by SANDRA HESKA KING • Saturday, February 18, 2012

I have that verse from Lamentations on a morning coffee cup given to me by an online friend. It's a promise to hang on to! Thanks for introducing me to Catherine, Barb. What a gift of grace.

THE SECRET TO FINDING HOPE

Visitor Comments (9)

More Articles