Hang in there

Hang in there

Bible: Isaiah 41:8-13

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (V.10).

Reading

An older guy in our church reached seventy-eight recently. So we had a little birthday party after one of the Sunday morning services for him. Someone asked him, “What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your life so far?” His answer? “Hang in there!” Hang in there. We might be tempted to ignore those words as simplistic. But the guy in our church wasn’t telling us to just hope for the best. He’s gone through some really tough things in nearly eight decades. His determination to keep going wasn’t based in some vague hope that things might get better, but in Jesus’ work in his life. “Hanging in there”—the Bible uses words like perseverance, endurance and longsuffering—isn’t possible through trying harder. We keep going because God promises, over and over, that He’s with us, that He’ll give us strength and that He’ll use us for His plans, no matter what. That’s the message He spoke to the Israelites through Isaiah: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (ISAIAH 41:10). What does it take to “hang in there”? According to Isaiah, it’s all about knowing who God is: His goodness, love, faithfulness. By making the time every day to have some space with Him and read the Bible, we will grow in our confidence of who He is. And as we hold onto His promises, we’ll be less afraid of the challenges we face, and more secure that He is with us through them all. Knowing God is what makes it possible to “hang in there”.

WE CAN “HANG IN THERE” WHEN WE ARE HANGING ON TO GOD!

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