Day 12: Micah 7:7
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”
As I read this verse, it hit me: hoping in God is a choice—an intentional one.
Let’s talk about choices. When you are offered a ride to town, you must choose whether to get into the car. When you are unwell, you must choose to take medicine. When you have an exam coming up, you must choose to study. When you are all sweaty, you must choose to take a shower.
Life is about choices, and about making the right ones. When you are offered a ride, for example, if you notice that the people inside the car seem fishy, you may choose to politely decline the offer and not get in.
For the believer, the choice to hope may seem obvious, but it isn’t. Often, when I go through tough seasons, my default reaction is to sulk and say that God is far away and does not care. Yet I can feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to trust in the Lord and commit everything to Him. Just as we choose whether to switch on a light or remain in darkness, we also choose whether to hope in God or not
When I bought my first car, I drove it to work the first time, hoping and praying that I would not hit anyone along the way. When I arrived, I parked carefully and walked toward the administration block, glad that I had made it in one piece! As I approached the main entrance, the boss walked up to me and said loudly, “Is that all you could get with your salary? A little car?” Everyone heard what he said: children, parents, and other staff members. It was terrible!
I had a choice. I could have answered back. I could have harbored anger in my heart. I could have decided to incite my colleagues against him. But one of my friends wisely told me to let it go. And I did. I chose to do the right thing, even though it was painful.
Hoping in God is not always easy. It may be painful. It may take a long time before you see the results. But it is the right thing to do. Hoping in God is the right choice.
Reflection
Are you struggling to put your hope in God? Do you feel as though He has disappointed you? I am sure you can sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your heart, reminding you that placing your hope in God is the right thing to do, regardless of the circumstances. Go ahead—surrender your fear and doubt to the Lord, and put your hope in Him. Even if things do not change immediately, the Lord is carrying the weight of the situation for you.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for always prompting me to hope in You, and for continually reminding me that You want to walk with me through every situation. Give me the strength to put my hope and trust in You, and to keep holding on even if the answer takes a long time to come. Amen.