Hope In Him

— Janet Butler (Farsi Community)

Gas Street Church is privileged to have a Farsi-speaking group as part of its fellowship and this week's devotionals are written by their leadership team. For this reason, the Bible passage also appears in Farsi.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 (AMP)

‘He gives strength to the weary, and to him who has no might He increases power. Even youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, but those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings (and rise up close to God) like eagles (rising toward the sun); they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.’

حتی جوانان هم درمانده و خسته می شوند و دلاوران از پای در می آیند، اما آنانی که به خداوند امید بسته اند نیروی تازه می یابند و مانند عقاب پرواز می کنند، می دوند و خسته نمی شوند، راه می روند و ناتوان نمی شوند.

This verse gives me hope! I’m certainly not as young as I once was but that’s true for all of us.

Later this year I’m going to reach a significant birthday but somehow inside I still feel about 30. The person that I see in the mirror does not bear resemblance to how I think of myself. On the other hand, my body has other ideas and isn’t as fast or agile. Bedtime is definitely earlier than it used to be!

Recently I returned from a trip to Sweden visiting friends. I had set the alarm for 5.30am, (4.30am UK time) to make sure that we caught the train and plane back to the UK. The trip went smoothly, and I arrived home about 4pm so time for a cup of tea, throw my laundry into the bin and then off to midweek Farsi group to set up and lead the worship.

Sitting in our prayer meeting before we started our gathering, I felt that I wasn’t going to be able to do this as I was so tired. Suddenly the scripture ‘When I am weak then I am strong’ (2Cor 12:10) came to my mind. I hung onto it and said, ‘Lord I feel very weak - come and be my strength, I’m relying on You, I really can’t do this tonight.’

I got up still feeling tired but full of hope that God was going to meet my need. The time of worship was great and by the end I felt restored and better than I’d felt all day. I can’t promise that you’ll never feel tired again if you hope in God, but I know that God is faithful and as we call out to him, he will be there for us.

Prayer - Lord, thank you that you care about my every need. Help me today to look to you and find your strength and hope in whatever challenges you put before me.