The Door of Hope
••BACK PORCH BIBLE STUDY••
7•1•2020
We have been in a projected state of quarantine for nearly four months (give or take a few days/weeks either direction). There have been a lot of things happen in that time, which have equally caused more stress, heartache, confusion, and disbelief.
One of the things I’ve watched happen is the mental and emotional health of those around me. You can trust me when I say, I know what this is and what it’s doing to those who are experiencing it. I’ve lived it.
Sometimes, when others are suffering, in their state, they cannot see nor comprehend the empathy, encouragement, or help of others, but instead lash out at the hand trying to save them.
Please let me state, for the record, that I in no way am diminishing anyone’s suffering, nor am I comparing what I endured with what someone else may be suffering. I only mean to shed some light, life, and love into an otherwise bleak situation.
This brings me to today’s Back Porch Bible Study. In my daily reading and watching of devotions, I came across a few passages that really helped me. I want to share them with you.
We often go through trials and heartache. Thinking of our current situation, that’s an extreme understatement. We call these trials, going through a valley. In the Bible (reference Psalm 23) we often say, “through the valley of the shadow of death.” In Hosea 2:15, it’s called the Valley of Achor, or the Valley of Trouble.
But even in the valley, even though we suffer, there is always a “door of hope” – a way out!
We were never meant to sit down in the valley, but to walk through it, to learn from it as we walk through and OUT! And God loves us so much that, when we are walking through said valley, He is there with us (even though we think He left). He calls to us, He gently speaks to us, He never condemns us… He LOVES US.
When we wonder, “Do you see me?” The answer is always, “YES!” There is always hope. There is always love. There is always an open door. We must take the steps out of the valley and walk through the door! We must learn to take God at His word and learn that everything about His Word is redemptive. That means, helpful, healing, saving, redeeming, rescuing, reviving, and more!
Therefore, whenever we find ourselves in the Valley of Achor (Valley of Trouble), we must get it into our mind and heart and believe, “Something good is about to happen!”
What if we are watching someone else go through the Valley?
In Isaiah 43 and Hebrews 10, this is where we find our encouragement. We have to trust Him to walk us through those times when we think all hope is lost. Because in truth, hope is never lost… the enemy just gets in the way and blocks our view.
The LORD promised He would be with us. He also told us “don’t be afraid.” Hard to practice sometimes, but what if we actually took a deep breath and took a step forward, even if it was a shaky one? What if, when we see others who are struggling, we come alongside them, gently took them by the hand, and said, “I was sent to walk with you.” ??
We may have to endure opposition and suffering ourselves. A wounded animal, however gentle, often bites the hand trying to help them. However, the Word tells us to have “patient endurance” and we will eventually receive God’s reward.
Encourage, motivate, help, love, endure with patient endurance. Never stop meeting together. Keep going. Don’t give up. And remember: Don’t sit down in the Valley of Trouble. There is a Door of Hope. Something good is about to happen! Let’s encourage and motivate each other and walk through it TOGETHER!!
If you have comments, questions, or need prayer, email us at hello@walkinghealed.org
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