Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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The Hope Diamond

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

The Hope diamond, after a long history of ownership, sits proudly in the Smithsonian Institute where visitors can be amazed at its opulence. At 45.52 carats it is surrounded by 16 smaller white diamonds. And even the chain is composed of 45 diamonds! This diamond has gone through several different cuttings and settings since its discovery in India in the 1600’s. But it wasn’t until 1839 that this diamond was referred to as the “Hope” diamond, having been owned by the Hope family. I always called my wedding ring diamond the Hope diamond, hoping that despite its size, people could see it!

Today’s verse talks about hope that is deferred, meaning postponed or delayed. In contrast, when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. This week begins Advent Season, the four Sundays marking our approach to the birth of Christ. The first one celebrates HOPE as we are reminded of all the prophesies fulfilled in the first coming of the Messiah. We are encouraged to continue hoping as we anticipate His triumphal second coming. Christ’s coming fulfilled the hope and deep longing for true life! He Himself is LIFE (John 14:6) and HOPE! (I Tim. 1:1)

When hope is lost, there is no life. We all need to have hope. Unfortunately, when hope is placed in what does not deliver, the heart becomes sick. But my hope is placed in the One who gave me life. His coming as that baby in a manger led to a sacrificial death and resurrection that makes my hope of eternal life sure. I live with that hope. I will die with that hope. Jesus is the “joy of man’s desiring,” the fulfillment of my deepest longings! As beautiful as all the trappings of Christmas are, Christ’s birth represents my hope for today, my hope for tomorrow and my hope for eternity!

Thank you Lord, for being my hope.


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Jumping to Conclusions?

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

(Photo by Richard Ivey @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anamorphic_frog_sculpture_by_Jonty_Hurwitz.jpeg)

Who would have thought that this distorted flat and elongated sculpture could actually be the frog pictured in the mirrored cylinder? I would not have! I would jump to the conclusion that the one had very little to do with the other. This is an example of “mirror anamorphosis.” It was developed during the Ming Dynasty in China. A curved mirror is placed before a sculpture or drawing to transform the flat distorted image into an undistorted one!

Today’s verse likens our spiritual growth to seeing only a reflection in a mirror. Our perspective is suspect as we do not see what we finally will be. We only know in part what will be the finished product of God’s work in us. What we will be has not yet been made known to us (I John 3:2) but we do know that we will not be just a new and improved version of ourselves. Better than that, we will resemble Christ!

I am fully known by my Creator. He knows me a whole lot better than I know myself. It is amazing that He loves me just the way I am. But He has more for me. He is slowly transforming me to be more like Him. My image of myself and that mirror are both flawed. But one day I will not only be complete but I will understand all that is blurry and distorted here. I can be content with only knowing “in part,” because I can trust Him and His work in me!

Thank you Lord, for the “future me!”

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2020)


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Chaos Theory

Scripture for Today: Psalm 33:10-11 “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

The contrast is a stark one noted on this sign, and recently in our world as well. There is a theory called, “Chaos Theory,” that attempts to explain the unpredictable. Rather than traditional science that deals with the predictable, as in gravity or certain chemical reactions, Chaos Theory teaches us to expect the unexpected. It is a science of surprises that are impossible to predict or control. Categorizing what we cannot control as “chaos,” does not do much to reassure me!

Today’s verse does reassure me. There may be political unrest or chaos in our world but the Lord has plans that are never frustrated or foiled. His sovereignty is absolute. He allows and He blocks the plans of men. He is not random or capricious but always has a design of His own that will supersede our own plans. His unseen plans will never be thwarted by man as they stand firm and forever. In contrast to chaos, and despite chaos, there is an ordered objective to what God is allowing.

This truth gives me tremendous comfort when my world seems to be spinning out of control, whether on a large or personal scale. Nothing takes the God of the universe by surprise. He has no need to modify or change His plans as He knows the end from the beginning. He never says, “uh-oh,” nor does He wring His hands. He has the world in those hands and because He does, I can have rest in the middle of unrest.

Thank you Lord, that Your plans stand firm.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2021)


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Easter Lily

Scripture for Today: Matthew 12:40 “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Growing up, my Mother’s Easter table was often graced with this lily. This beautiful flower is also called, “white-robed apostles of hope.” There is symbolism in the white color representing the purity of Christ.  The trumpet shape of the flower brings to mind the trumpeting of the message of resurrection. But what impresses me is that all this beauty could come from a dirty unremarkable bulb. For at least three years its bulb stays underground in the dark before bursting forth to flower.

Today’s verse comes from a discussion Jesus had with the Pharisees asking for a sign. Here, Jesus predicts the three days He will spend in the heart of the earth following His death. Those three days were not unlike what Jonah experienced. It was during those three days that despair was so keenly felt by all who had hoped in Christ. All who had looked to Jesus to be their deliverer must have felt betrayed and defeated. It looked as if Satan had won. But then…death could not hold him!

There may be three dark days, three dark years or even thirty during which He may ask me to wait for a positive outcome. But because of Christ’s resurrection, I have hope. His victory over death ensures mine. And even the darkest time can be seen as “momentary” compared to the glorious future He has prepared for me! (II Cor. 4:17) One day I will shed this dirty bulb-like body and burst forth, flowering for an eternity in a new resurrected body! All because He died and rose again for me. His resurrection gives me new life, eternal life and life now that can be abundant!

Thank you Lord, for the hope You give.


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What Are You Looking At?

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 11:10 “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

How odd to see this orderly organized group of dogs on a local trail! It is as if they were posing for a picture, which is exactly what they were doing! Their photographer was ready at her camera to take the shot. The lighting was perfect, the dogs arranged just so and no one was around….until my son came around the corner. As you can see, the dogs all turned as one to face him, ruining the carefully crafted moment. But my son was delighted with a photo of his own, all because the dogs were looking in the wrong direction!

Today’s verse describes where Abraham was looking. He was looking forward to a city not made with human hands. This permanent and eternal city is the heavenly Jerusalem to come (Heb. 12:22) and is described in Revelation 21. Abraham’s incredible faith was strengthened by where he was looking. Abraham and all the others honored for their faith in Hebrews 11 were looking for a country of their own, considering themselves as aliens and strangers on this earth (vs. 13-14). He was looking toward the future of a promise fulfilled, seeing it from a distance with eyes of faith.

Just like those distracted dogs, I am often looking in the wrong direction. My eyes need to be fixed on Jesus and the coming fulfillment of all He has promised. The evil one distracts me with empty promises of contentment here on earth. But I need to fix my eyes on what is unseen and eternal (II Cor. 4:18). And the more I can look in the right direction, the more my faith will strengthen and grow.

Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and all that awaits!