Hope at the end of the Rope

Read Job 30.

Once so highly respected, Job had become one who was jeered.  People talked about him and treated him in derisive ways.  They could not stand to be around him.

Meanwhile, Job had enough internal issues of his own.  His chronic pain would not allow him any rest.  His body was disfigured.  Spiritually, he felt thrown aside by God.

In crying out to God, Job recounted how he came to the rescue of those around him when they needed help.  But now, when he was the one in need, no one seemed to care.  "But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came." (v.26)

It can be difficult to find solid hope in the middle of a tough test.  Job held on to his faith but questioned his circumstances with each response.  Would God allow him to be this miserable and then merely die? (v.23)  The lessons from Job are consistent with many others in the Bible who experienced excruciating tests of faith.

Hagar, the handmaid of Sarah and mother of Ishmael, was sent away from the family of Abraham to fend for herself.  When the food and water ran out, it appeared that she and her son would soon die.  Surely, she felt abandoned by the people she had served for years and now forgotten by God.  But when "she lifted up her voice and wept" (Genesis 21:16) she discovered that God had been watching every move and listening to every word.  Though others may have forsaken her, He did not.  It was at the lowest point of her despair that the LORD revealed two things to her that we can rely on today.

1. God has plans for our future.

The LORD was not through with her yet.  She would not die because of this test.  There were things to do.  Her descendants would one day be a great nation.

2. God has already provided to meet our immediate need.

The water was right in front of her but she did not see it until God "opened her eyes".