Yesterday, we looked at how thanksgiving for past blessings and mercies can open a door of hope for us in our ‘todays’. A door of hope that will lead us into faith for all that we need, and all that we believe He has promised us. We looked at how Abraham believed for the impossible and grew strong in faith ‘as He gave glory to God’. Romans 4:18. Paradoxically his faith grew in the ten years he waited when there was absolutely no circumstantial evidence to support his hopes, as he got older. His circumstances were, in fact, more likely to confirm his doubts and fears, but thanksgiving kept his eyes on the Lord rather than the material facts of life.
For us things may be a little different however, because probably most of us have not had such a clear word from God, as did Abraham. Often in our times of waiting and hoping there is also some uncertainty around whether or not we have really heard God aright. Did He really promise us ……….?, and therefore in a time of waiting we can also wonder whether He really wants to give us what we have asked for, and for which we are ‘believing.’
For me thanksgiving even in these situations is still the door opener to hope and then faith. If in my uncertainty I can focus on the character of God, and can thank Him for truths like, ‘’No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly’. Psalm 84:11, or ‘He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely give us all things.’ Romans 8:32, and ‘His divine power has bestowed on us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through our knowledge of Him.’ 2 Peter 1:3, then my hope will grow.
“Well those verses are about our ‘spiritual’ life” I hear you murmur, and yes I would agree, but we also can thank the Lord that He is ‘Jehovah-Rohe’, The Lord my Shepherd. He is Jehovah-Jirah, the Lord my Provider, He is ‘My Refuge and Strength, Psalm 46:1, and so on. There are so many truths and promises about God, His character and His intention towards us His children in the Bible, that we need never be without encouragement from His Word. Remember, our Heavenly Father is not impractical. Jesus made this clear when He told us not to worry about food and clothes because, “Your heavenly Father already knows your needs”. Matthew 6:32 NLT.
Perhaps the biggest truth that I can focus on is that I have a triune God; God Almighty who is my extremely loving, generous and powerful heavenly Father; the Son Jesus who said, among other encouragements to pray in faith, “If you live in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it will be done for you.” John 15:7; and the Holy Spirit who will lead and guide my praying and, even when I don’t know how to pray, will pray for, in and through me. Romans 8:26,27.
So it is all about knowing who our God is and how much He loves us. Let us mine His Word for these wonderful truths, upon which we can build our hope and then our faith, as we thank Him for who He is and what He wants to be for us at this time in our lives. Remember that He told Moses, “I AM who I AM and I will be who I will be”. Exodus 3:14 AMP. Ask Him who He wants to be for you at this moment in your life.
He also proclaimed Himself to be “The Lord! The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abounding in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:6. We can certainly thank Him for that, and see that ‘door of hope’ swing open.
