Listen

You will draw water with joy from the springs of salvation. And you will say on that day: “Thank the Lord; call on God’s name; proclaim God’s deeds among the peoples; declare that God’s name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, who has done glorious things; proclaim this throughout all the earth.”

Isaiah 12:3-5

Think

It is always nice when things work out the way you want them to, and it’s even nicer when things work out in a way that turns out better than you expected. I think that is a bit of what relationship with God is like: something that is better than expected.

It is hard to describe our relationship with God. Throughout the centuries many have written, striving to express a bit of what it is like. The prophet Isaiah tells us it is like the joy of water when you are thirsty. It causes you to praise and be filled with joy. It causes you to sing and be filled with hope—hope that does not know what is next, but trusts that it will be good. Trust comes from remembering how God has been with us, even in the difficult times. Trust and hope work together. Knowing God has been with us before, we can have hope and trust that God will continue to journey with us no matter what.

Andrew Kellner

Question to Ponder:

When have you felt hope?

Pray

Holy One, thank you for abiding with me. Help me to know the joy of your presence and trust in the hope that you provide. One area where I need hope today is…

Amen.

Go

May your hope be in God, whose steadfast love never ceases to amaze. May your trust be in God’s mercy, knowing nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus.