Many of us have heard it said (or have said it ourselves): “My relationship with the Lord feels kind of dry.” Or maybe something like this: “I just feel stagnant in my faith.” Or “I’m not getting much out of my quiet times lately.” This can happen to any of us. We feel like we are just going through the motions. Something that at one point felt so exciting and fun now just seems like an act or something you do because you feel like you have to.
Recently, this verse in Jonah, Chapter 2 stuck out to me: “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.” Jonah was in a pretty bad place. Probably the lowest point of his life and he called out to the Lord and remembered His steadfast love.
Maybe you’re going through a hard time right now? Maybe you’re going through a “dry” season and it feels like your hope is waning? Whatever it is, do not forsake your hope in His steadfast love! When God seems far away, do not lose hope. When you don’t feel like God cares, don’t believe it! Jonah thought he could outrun God; but God was near to him the whole time. When Jonah was in the most awful circumstances of his life, God was near!
The reason we keep reading our Bibles when we don’t feel motivated, the reason we pray without ceasing when God doesn’t seem to answer, and the reason we keep going to church when we’d rather be doing something else is because we have hope in God’s steadfast love! Don’t forsake that hope, Christian. God is near, He hears your prayers and He will never leave you nor forsake you.
In His Hope,
Austin
Posted in A Word from the Pastor