Hope of A Blessed FutureSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: It is the divine will of the Lord to bless you with a hope and a future. But to reach there, He may take you through the wilderness. You may feel all alone and forsaken. Do not panic! God will be with you even there. We read about a young man in the Holy Bible whose name is Jacob (Genesis 25:27), a very timid and home loving youth. He was ignorant of the world and its ways. Once, he had to face a dreadful enemy. His own brother rose against him and was resolved to kill him (Genesis 27:41). On hearing this, Jacob was heart-broken. Fear of death seized him. He lost all hopes about his future. His mother told him, "Surely your brother Esau will kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran" (Genesis 27:42,43). In fear and distrust in his future, driven away from home, he ran towards the wilderness, where he wandered with no bread to eat and clothing to put on. There was none to love him or to protect him. He wandered all alone in the wilderness; darkness engulfed him. He took a stone, placed it under his head and lay down to sleep. Then he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above it and said: "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place (Genesis 28:12,13,15,16). God revealed Himself that day to Jacob, who acknowledged Him as his God. All the fear that he had about his future vanished, and a divine peace filled his heart.
Even today, all over the world, there are so many people who have lost hope of their future, just like Jacob. The burden of hundreds of young men and women writing to us is this: "Brother, I am greatly vexed by fear. I have no faith in my future. I am always in tears, unable to read the Bible or pray. I languish in loneliness and poverty with none in whom I can confide."
Dear friend, do not be afraid of your enemy. Do not be dismayed, saying, "I am all alone. I have no faith in my future." Remember that your future is in the Lord's hand. He desires to be your father and make you His child. Take heart, saying, "My times are in Your hand." (Psalm 31:15). "Remember the years of the right hand of the Most High" (Psalm 77:10).
We read in the Bible of another young man who cried out to God in such a situation. His name is David. He cried out to God, "Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation" (Psalm 27:9). To those who put their trust in the Lord, He is their future and their hope.
After Jacob accepted the Lord as his Father, there happened another miracle in his life. The Lord made him find favour in the eyes of his uncle, who took Jacob into the fold of his family. The Lord blessed all his undertakings. Thus, he became exceedingly prosperous and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 30:43).
Dear friend, the Lord is mighty to do this to you, according to His blessing, "Whatever he does shall prosper" (Psalm 1:3).
St.John greeted Gaius with great love, saying, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). In the same manner, it is the Lord's holy will that you should prosper in all things. The Lord's blessing will bring riches into your life. Just tell Him today, "Lord, You are my Father; You alone are my future!" Surely, He will assume full responsibility for your life. He will exalt you and honour you before all people around you.
Prayer:
Most loving Heavenly Father,
The fear of my future and my enemies makes me weak and tired. But I know You are with me, to hold me and give me victory over my enemies, and to bless me with a hope and future. Help me follow Your holy will. You are my Father. You alone are my future. My days are in Your hands, O Lord! Take control of my life and give me blessed future. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |