Signs And Symbols Of Hope

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF HOPE

… “My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit rejoices in

God my Saviour…”

Luke 1: 46,47

Mary was a young teenage girl when she conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. For a teenager to have her life disrupted in this unexpected manner, she could have lamented and maybe even become bitter about it. Instead, her relationship with God helped her to see the hope we can have in God as seen in Luke 1:46 – 55.

Instead of being despondent, Mary could magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because she recognized that she was just a simple girl from a humble background. Yet God chose her to be the mother of the Saviour who would bring hope. When she looked back, she was able to trace God’s fingerprints to see the great things He had done in her life. She was not overwhelmed by the situation she was in because she knew that God is a merciful God. For those who fear Him, He will always be there in their time of need.

Are we also in situations that are causing us to feel discouraged, overwhelmed or even bitter? We too have a choice not to look at the negativity of our situation but at our merciful God who loves us. When we do that, our eyes too can be opened and our hearts filled with hope that no matter what situation we are in, God can use it for something bigger and greater when  we  are willing.  He can use our five loaves  and two fish to be a blessing to many. If our hearts are open, we will look back and be able to see that He has been faithfully walking with us and have done wonderful things in our lives. This is why we can be assured that He is a God who is full of mercy and grace and will not abandon us in our time of need. This is why we can place our hope in Him.

If you are feeling downcast today, let’s remember what our God says in Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV),

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

He is working in ways that we may not be able to see yet. However, as we hope in Him, we will be able to “go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” (Isaiah 55: 12a)

Let us take the first step to make this choice to look to Him and not at our circumstances so that our hearts too can be filled with hope and joy.

By sister Sarah Choo