The Manna Life - HOPE AND FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
By Jennifer Holder, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
When things seemed overwhelming and bleak, and I felt alone and confused during our family’s crisis, I often found myself praying for hope. The first few months of my husband’s mental health battles included well over a hundred panic attacks. As his struggles raged on, he became more and more depressed and despairing. He felt like his own mind was no longer a safe place to be. Pair that with several medical diagnoses my husband was muddling through and the pandemic, and we were overwhelmed, to say the least.
If I could summarize my needs in one word, most days, it would have been hope. I desperately needed hope. Hope that things could and would get better. Hope that the medications would bring about some stability. Hope that I would have what I needed when I needed it. Hope that God would be present with us even if we were isolated from the rest of the world during the pandemic. Hope that my marriage would remain intact as time passed and the struggle continued. Hope became something I included every day in my manna prayers because, just like manna, it is something I need to intentionally take hold of each day.
In Romans 15:13 it says:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
I returned to this verse repeatedly when I found hope waning. It speaks of the God of hope as well as the hope of God. I take great comfort in knowing that God is a God of hope, meaning hope is a part of his character, and therefore, He is able to give us hope. Since He is the God of hope, His presence with us also inherently brings hope. I love that hope is given in abundance through the power of the Holy Spirit. For me, this abundant hope gave me the ability to pray for more than just survival, to pray that God would be working for our good, a much bigger prayer than that He would remove the bad things from our lives.
One of the interesting things about manna was the story it told long after God had stopped providing it for the Israelites. God instructed Moses and Aaron to collect a day’s worth of manna to be kept in a jar for future generations:
"…so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 16:32
This manna was a declaration of God’s faithfulness for the children of Israel to remember how God had taken care of their every need as He rescued them from slavery to the Egyptians. One of the psalmists wrote a song referencing the manna as the “bread of the angels,” telling of the “glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done... so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” (Psalm 78:25, 4 and 7) For the psalmist, remembering God’s faithfulness was an essential part of hope. The psalmist’s words should be good news to us because we have agency in what we choose to remember, and as we remember, hope grows and multiplies as we share it with others. This is what “abounding in hope” looks like as it is brought about by the power of the Holy Spirit:
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." John 14:26
PRAYER
Lord, You promise that our hope will never disappoint. I claim that promise for myself today. Would You make me aware of Your presence and bring to mind the stories of Your faithfulness to me and others as a way to strengthen my hope in You? May I remember You are the God of hope, embodying all that is good and true and loving. May Your peace and joy abound as You fill me with Your hope. Amen.
More free resources for help, hope, and healing:
Ask Dr. Betters is a topical video series of over 425 videos that have reached over 1 1/2 million views. Dr. Chuck F. Betters answers questions submitted by the listening audience on suffering and the sovereignty of God. It is MARKINC's hope that Dr. Betters answers will reinforce that God is good and worthy of our trust even when life is difficult and when we struggle to understand Him. You can learn more or subscribe by clicking here: Ask Dr. Betters
About the Author: Jennifer Holder - Several years ago Jennifer Holder was unexpectedly thrust into the role of caregiver at the onset of her husband’s sudden crisis with debilitating OCD, panic disorder, and depression. She had to learn and continues to learn how to care for someone she loves who struggles with ongoing mental health issues. She quickly became aware that for every individual suffering from mental health, there are more who love them and are profoundly influenced as well. While she holds no formal credentialing in the mental health field, her experiences on this journey have compelled her to be a voice for the large, often invisible community of caregivers. Jenni wants fellow caregivers to know you are not alone, you are valuable, and although the role of caregiver is often seen as an unwanted burden, it can actually be a space of discovery, joy, and connection. She seeks to bring practical resources, hope, and levity to those living in the gaps in the mental health care system by honestly sharing her journey with the ever-growing community of those who love someone struggling with their mental health.
Connect with Jenni and her writing at jfholder.com
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Friday, 23 February 2024.
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