Choosing Hope

Hey there it's good to have you here for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread are reading titled choosing hope was written by Lisa Sam I am one of the millions of people worldwide who suffer from essay D seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression common in places with limited sunlight due to short winter days when I begin to fear winters frozen curse will never end. I'm eager for any evidence that longer days and warmer temperatures are coming.

The first signs of spring flowers successfully braving their way through the lingering snow also powerfully remind me of the way God's hope can break through even in our darkest seasons. The prophet Micah confess this, even while enduring a heartrending winter as the Israelites turned away from God as Micah assessed the bleak situation. He lamented that not one upright person seemed to remain yet even though the situation appeared dire, the prophet refused to give up hope.

He trusted that God was at work, even if amid the devastation he couldn't yet see the evidence in our dark and sometimes seemingly endless winters when spring doesn't appear to be breaking through.

We face the same struggle as Micah will be given to despair or will we watch and hope for the Lord our hope in God is never wasted. He's bringing a time with no more winter time with no more morning pain until then, we rest in him confessing home is today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Micah chapter 7 verses two through seven. The faithful have been swept from the land, not one upright person remains everyone lies in wait to shed blood.

They hunt each other with nets both hands are skilled in doing evil. The ruler demands against the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire. They all conspired together the best of them is like a briar, the most upper right worse than a thorn hedge Dagon visits you has come the day your watchman sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. Do not trust a neighbor but no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips for a son dishonors his father daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law a man's enemies are the members of his own household. But as for me I watch and hope for the Lord. I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me. Let's pray heavenly father during difficult seasons of life.

It's so easy to be discouraged in those hard times. Help us place our hope in you and in every single season of our lives.

Help us share with others the peace we have in knowing you. Thank you Lord it's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries