Dear BCC Family,
Have you ever been tempted to lose heart and give up?
"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord!" - Psalm 27:13-14
When I read these verses in January of this year they immediately jumped out at me. Often when this happens, it is God's way of letting me know that He has something important to teach me so I wrote them down in my journal and began to commit them to memory. As I meditated on them over the next few days I wrote out this little devotion to help me remember what I felt God was saying in them.
When you're tempted to give into the gloom of despair (lose heart), remember that this dark night has a glorious dawn and it is closer than any of us think. Look also to the many promises God has made to you in His Word and to the many past moments when you have experienced His faithfulness personally. These are like shining stars on an otherwise black night which serve to guide your faith back home to your Maker. Most of all, look to your Savior and His Cross. Just like a full moon on a clear night provides more than enough light to see the path ahead of you, the true Light that shines brightest at the cross will also light your way until the day of His return finally breaks. In this way, gather up your courage knowing that you will see Him and His goodness both today by faith and one day by sight. As you entrust yourself to Him, He will fill your heart with fresh strength to endure the temporary sufferings of the present with a joyful eye on the future.
Looking back now, I can see why God wanted to share these verses with me. Lately it seems like each new week brings with it a new trial. I feel like we just can't catch our breath as a family before the next blow comes and knocks it out of us again. Can anyone else relate with that?
I have to say I've been tempted to lose heart a couple of times this year already and I probably would have if I had not believed the same thing that King David did in this Psalm. I am learning that when I am ready to give in to despair I need to stop and remind myself that I will see God's goodness. As I begin thinking on His promises and remembering how He has personally been faithful to me over the years I am led by His Spirit back to the place where His love was ultimately demonstrated in its fullness for us all. At the foot of The Cross, I find fresh strength to wait patiently for Him who shed His blood so I could be forgiven, who died so that I could live, and who was raised up so that I could have a hope and a future eternally with Him in His Kingdom. It is there I am given the courage and strength of heart that I need to lead my family forward in our journey of faith.
For everyone reading this who is in the midst of a difficult circumstance and may even be tempted to lose heart, I want to encourage you along with David to stand firm in your faith. Stop and remember God's goodness and His promises and look back and count the times He has been faithful to you in the past. Above all, meditate on the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ letting what He did for us there fill your heart with fresh strength and courage to press on until the day your faith becomes sight. God is faithful! Wait on Him!
- Shannon Compton
Life Groups Pastor
