Beyond hopelessness

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Lord All-Powerful, I am your servant, but I am so miserable! Please let me have a son. I will give him to you for as long as he lives, and his hair will never be cut. ~ 1 Samuel 1:11 (CEV)

We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. ~ Romans 4:17 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God often turns the hopeless situation into an example of power. So put your trust in him.

PRAYER:

Lord, our spiritual ancestors Abraham, Sarah, and Hannah all had to trust you for children. It appeared at first that nothing was going to happen. But because it was a part of your plan you turned hopeless situations into examples of your power. I wish I had that kind of faith to trust you. My faith is weak. Please make it stronger. I'm going to start by trusting that you will build up my faith. And then I am confident that you will be able to turn what is hopeless into a parade of hope. Thank you in advance for what you are going to do in my life. Amen.