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How many times has the Spirit of God come to you in the nighttime circumstances and assured you that you would make it past a terrible time? If you allow Him, He will speak true and encouraging words to your heart.
I think of a dear friend and Partner of this ministry that was facing difficult conditions in her practice. She’s a professional who has built up a good practice but she just didn’t have enough help. She couldn’t find the right kind of worker she needed.
But when we are facing hard times, we can keep having hope in those dark days. She did. She wouldn’t give up. We prayed and interceded and we believed for the relief to come and for that practice to be successful and continue to help people the way God had ordained. Time went on and she relied on the grace of God to make it each day. We just knew He had the right kind of person who could help her fulfill His will.
Now I want to share with you what I just heard from her. “God is good. Praise His name. Two weeks ago, I hired my first employee under my [company] and it has been a blessing having support staff organize me and taking care of things at my two locations that I can’t do on my own because I’m too busy. She is also helping with [my husband’s company] as well. And she just has such a good sweet spirit and [is] workable and her work ethic is refreshing. We give God the [praise]. We pray for Alcott Ministries.”
God sent a person who is an answer to help with the work responsibilities and the stress and the time pressure and the needs of the company. Our friend is experiencing good days. She knew the answer was out there and God provided it. We believed we would see it come together. And it did.
Having hope in the dark times must be applied to every kind of condition we face. It isn’t just for someone who’s facing a life-threatening disease or a family breakup or financial ruin. Those are very crucial but it’s also important for us to see hope in the challenges and conditions and needs that we face every day. God wants us to have hope continually. Call it this: call it everyday hope. It’s the kind that you have for everyday things that you face in addition to the big things.
The apostle Paul believed this, and he believed it in the worst of times. In Acts 26 and 27, we see how much was breaking up around him. He was on a ship bound for Rome, and the captain and the crew had forced continuing the trip when the weather wasn’t good enough.
When the ship had gone a distance, the winds became contrary to them. We will face times when the winds are contrary to us. They are blowing against us. We’re trying to make our way and those winds are pushing us back and causing us so much consternation. So what can we do?
Have hope. Believe it will come together.
The Bible says the crew on that ship had no hope of rescue. No hope of rescue. Those are pitiful words, but we can feel them, because we have been there. So Paul told the people that the Lord had revealed to him that even though the ship would break up, they wouldn’t. They would be saved. You may know how it is to receive assurance in the nighttime hours that you will make it past that time. You will be saved.
After praying all night, daybreak came and they saw a beach. When they tried to make their way to it, they hit a reef and the ship began to break up. That ship was breaking up but God’s deliverance for them was coming together. Oh hear that. Your “ship” may be breaking up, but the deliverance God has planned for you is coming together. When you’re viewing what is breaking up and it seems to have no hope, go ahead and hope. Because the Lord has spoken you will be saved out of this.
When the ship ran aground, all the people on board dived into the sea to swim ashore. Every one of them made it to shore in safety. They were now facing a new day!
When you’re facing the dark night, believe it will give way to the morning. Psalm 30:5 says, The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. Look forward to the day of laughter that is coming to you.
You’ve had the night of weeping, being distraught, disappointed, hurting, wondering, What can I do? In spite of what is breaking up, God is causing everything to come together. So you’re about to enter into a day of laughter. It’s hard to see it right now but that night will give way to the day.
A Spiritual Powerline to say out loud:
“I WILL MAKE IT PAST THIS TIME AND HAVE DAYS OF LAUGHTER!”
Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:
Oh God, this gives me such hope. I believe the dark time will be over and the day of laughter is coming again. In spite of what seems to be breaking up, Your plan is bringing everything together that I need. I’m standing in faith. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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