Prodigal Prayer Day 5: His Name Is Hope

His name itself is what we need...

This is the fifth post in a weekly series of mini-devotionals on HOPE, which is the theme of the 2016 June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. This letter goes to the members of the Prayer for Prodigals community, but it is true for all of us 

Dear Lover of Prodigals,

In moments, days, seasons of despair, we look for hope.

Everyone, at some time, looks for a source of hope.

In an election season, people look with hope for a candidate to turn things around, or restore order, or lead with integrity.  And many see no hope.In a financial crisis, how will we survive?  Who will rescue us?  Is there hope?

When loss—a loved one, health, a job, a relationship—devastates, how will we go on? Can we keep hoping?

Where do we look for hope?  To family? Friends? A new job? A move? The government?

But finding no hope, what is there but despair, resignation, giving up?  It is hopeless.

When you love a prodigal, you know these feelings.When he comes home drunk once again.  When she is pregnant.  When he calls from JDC.  When you discover she is still cutting herself. When he says he wants nothing to do with your God. When she has run away.  When the hospital calls to say he has overdosed.You feel helpless.  And hopeless.

But hold on.  We have hope.  Our God has said His name is Hope:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans15:13, our theme verse)

Why is that such good news?  Why should it fill us with hope?

Because: “[even] If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13).

God assures us that He MUST be true to who He is.  His many names give us extensive pictures of who He is and what He is like: Love, Peace, Almighty, Healer, Provider, Fortress, Defender….…and HOPE!

He will always be true to His name.

The meaning of hope is so hopeful:  the desire of some good with expectation of obtaining it.  This acrostic is helpful for remaining hopeful, even when we see no reason to hope.

H olding

O n (with)

P atient

E xpectation.

When we hope, we acknowledge that we have not seen the answer we desire yet.  Often we don’t even know what the answer is.

But we know the why and where and who of Hope: our faithful God.  We can go to Him with our tears and fears, our anger and despair—and He will give us hope.  Because His name is Hope.

That’s it?  Hope? No answers? We don’t get what we are asking for? Our prodigals don’t return, change, make better choices, follow Jesus?

Paul reminds us:  “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.“ (Romans 8:24-25)

So we wait.  And hope.  With this assurance:

“I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:22)

Remaining in hope,

Judy

What about you?

c2016 Judy Douglass

Related post: When a Parent Loses Hope

If you would be interested in requesting prayer for a prodigal loved one, or being a part of our wonderful praying community, respond in comments or write to me at PrayerforProdigals at gmaildotcom.