Read This When Your Hope Is Fading - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - December 27, 2024
iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women
Audio By Carbonatix
By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
I've been waiting for healing for about seven years. In anticipation, my hope has faded. I've grown fatigued, worn, and weary. Just when it looks like light at the end of the tunnel, dark clouds surround me. That's the life of most people who suffer from chronic physical and mental anguish. Does it describe you and yours?
If we're honest, it's hard to be hopeful when hope itself is fading. Though he didn't face physical or mental turmoil that we're aware of, Simeon knew what it was like to wait patiently, endure, and grow weary. Over 2,000 years ago, the people of Jerusalem were waiting for their King. When He showed up as a baby born in a manger, they didn't know what to think. But not Simeon.
Simeon was a man who served God faithfully and wholeheartedly. He was patient, persevering, and clung to the promises spoken to Him. And yet, He still had to wait. The older he grew, the more weary I suspect he felt. God had told Simeon that he wouldn't die until he saw the Messiah. But let's be honest, Simeon was now an elderly man. He clung to precious promises but probably felt His hope fading.
Before Jesus was born, Simeon was given two choices:
1. To persevere.
2. To quit.
Today, I think each of us is given the same choice. No matter our circumstances or what hope looks like, we can persevere or quit. If we're wise, we will learn to be like Simeon—a man who waited tirelessly for the Lord's promises and was steadfast, unwavering, and true. He believed that God would give him the desires of his heart (to see and bless the Messiah before he died [Luke 2:26]) and saw it through to completion.
Luke 2:25-35 recounts our story this way: "At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!' Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, 'This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul'" (NLT).
Let's pray:
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Nadine Rupprecht
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
Related Resource: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)
When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.
This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
