THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE | Tony Evans

A little bird procrastinated flying south for the winter, until the air became so cold that it began to freeze and it couldn’t get south to a warmer climate. After some time, the little bird finally collapsed in the snow, in a large field covered where a herd of cows was. Eventually, a cow came by and dropped manure on the freezing bird. At first, the bird was very upset until it felt how warm the manure was. Before too long, it began to thaw out and became so excited that it started singing with joy.

A cat happened to be passing by and heard the bird’s joyful singing. He followed it to the pile of manure and started digging until he discovered the little bird and promptly ate it.

There are a number of lessons we can learn from this story. First, not everybody who drops manure on you, is your enemy. Second, not everybody who digs you out, is your friend. Finally, when you’re in manure, keep your mouth shut.

If we live long enough, each one of us will find ourselves in a situation that seems much worse, than we can bear. To follow the story line above, we’ll feel as though we are under a pile of manure. However, if our expectations are set on Jesus Christ and His providence of care, we will not stumble at the thought of going through a time of trial. In fact, we’ll have His hope to comfort us even in what appears to be a hopeless situation.

I love the illustration that we read in the book of Daniel, chapter three, where it says, “Nebuchadnezzar commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire” (Daniel 3:20).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were in a bad situation. It doesn’t get much worse than being thrown into a fiery furnace – except for being thrown into hell. However, these three young men put their faith in God and gained a tremendous victory.

We read, “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, ‘Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?’ They replied to the king, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:24-25).

God honored these three young men’s faith by delivering them from the furnace, even while they were still in the furnace. He will do the same for you when you live as a faith-walker, rather than a faith-talker.

The message of the gospel and God’s word does not automatically and immediately change all of life’s negative realities. Christians still face the same troubles of life as anyone else (see John 16:33). What God does provide, however, is a sustaining hope. God is aware of your plight and is working on your behalf for good. No matter how dark the situation is, keep the faith because ultimately it will keep you. If you are still stuck deep in a pit, look for the lifeline that God uses to send you what you need to sustain you as you wait on your breakthrough. He is Jehovah Jireh – My God who Shall Supply All My Needs.

And when the day comes for your victory, praise Him. Praise Him because He saw you through what seemed like a hopeless situation. Scripture tells us that Abraham was in a hopeless situation – that he and his wife were past the age of bearing children but that God had promised him an heir. So we read that, “Against all hope, Abraham – in hope – believed” (Romans 4:18). Abraham saw the fruit of his belief in his son.

You, too, will see the fruit of your belief – either in this world or in the next. It is a promise from a God who says that “those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (Isaiah 49:23).

Put your hope in God today. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you. And He will deliver you – He will deliver us – when we trust Him.

For His kingdom