Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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Waterfall

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 42:7 “Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;  All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.”

The grandeur of the mighty Niagara Falls impressed both my husband and me.  It was bitterly cold during our winter visit and we could not stand there for long.  Even so, the force of its cascading water was deafening!  Not only are these three falls breathtaking but they are an important source of hydroelectric power.  Almost 76,000 gallons of water flow over two of the three falls every second!

Our verse for today can be looked at as a description of the cascading waters flowing from the upper Jordan as they rush down from Mount Hermon (verse 6).  But they are also an image of the author’s depression.  His soul is downcast and it feels as if he is being overwhelmed with water.  The force of his emotions are overpowering.  As with the weight of water pouring down without interruption, so it can be with sadness.

The unrelenting weight of sadness affects every believer from time to time.  We sometimes seem to be the victim of our own emotions.  At the same time, we can see that there will some day be an end to distress and emotional turmoil.  It is this hope that can turn us around and help us keep our head above water.

Rather than focusing on the crushing weight of my emotions, I can look forward to an eternal weight of glory (II Cor. 4:17).  By comparison, whatever I am going through is considered light and momentary.  That is my hope.  Everything good is ahead of me.  All sorrow and sadness will one day be erased.

They are His waterfalls, His breakers, and His waves.  Thank you Lord, that you will not allow them to overwhelm me!


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A Mystery

Scripture for today: I Corinthians 15:51-52  “Behold I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep. but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

I cannot read this verse without thinking of the church nursery where our children attended.  The first part of the verse was written on the wall!  And it was true!  Whether the kids slept or not, I could count on them being changed!

The silhouette of Sherlock Homes is the association often made with the word, “mystery.”  This fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is known for his use of logic and forensic science in solving mysteries.  However, in Scripture, the word, “mystery,” has an entirely different meaning.  It is a truth that cannot be discovered except by revelation.  No logic or science will reveal this kind of mystery.

How exciting to have this mystery revealed to us in the verse for today!  One day, these breaking-down bodies will be changed from perishable to imperishable!  If believers are already dead and buried, they will be resurrected and changed.  If believers at that time are still living, their earthly bodies will be changed.  Imperishable bodies will be glorified ones that will be eternal.  There will no longer be an old nature with which to contend.  These new bodies will have no need of tear ducts!  It will all be done in the blink of an eye.  What an incredible day that will be!

As my body breaks down, it is a comfort to know that one day my body will be changed!  The Lord’s promise of healing will be completely realized!  Thank you, Lord, for revealing this amazing mystery!


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Dark Night

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 42:8  “The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”

We just experienced the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere on December 21st.  The winter solstice makes for a very long and dark night.  However, this year, it was the night before that could claim that distinction!  Due to a lunar eclipse, the night of the 20th is said to have been the darkest night in the last 500 years!

For many people, the holidays are represented by some very dark nights.  Expectations not met, hopes dashed and keen disappointments mark holiday nights.  Sweet “Hallmark” moments do not match up with one’s reality.  For some, the darkest nights occur when everyone else seems to be celebrating.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has said when it is dark enough, men see the stars.  But our verse for today is no pithy saying.  It is truth.  His loving kindness is ours in the daytime.  His song is ours in the night, even in the darkest night.  Circumstances can disappoint.  People can disappoint.  But HE does not.  Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11).  What an incredible truth!  During the darkest night, I can sing!  He gives me hope.

I love that our verse for today says that He “commands” His loving kindness.  It reminds me that He is in control.  He commands and directs.  He arranges and controls.  So much of my life is not my call, but His.  I am thankful that His control is loving and kind.  His direction is trustworthy.

No matter how dark the night, thank you Lord, that my heart can sing because You give me hope.


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Stylish Hats

hat unnamed Scripture for Today: Isaiah 35:10  “And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads.  And they will find gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

My husband loves his hats!  However, the one pictured here is only a distant memory!  It was the perfect hat!  It had metal in the rim and could be twisted this way and that for the perfect look!  He was able to enjoy it for only a few days.  On a ferry ride, it blew off his head and into the waters of the Atlantic.  Oh, the shock and regret of that moment!  There was nothing to do but watch it drift away.

In our verse for today, there is something very different on the head!  Hats will have to make way for everlasting joy!  This prophecy of Isaiah made reference to a literal return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon.  They would one day return to Jerusalem or Zion.  But in a larger sense it can refer to all whom the Lord has redeemed.  One day there will be a highway traveled only by the redeemed and it will lead right into God’s Millennial Kingdom.  There will be uninterrupted joy in the presence of our King!

In God’s presence is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11)  In the future there will be no sorrow nor sighing.  One day there will be no tears.  Even the memories of struggle and disappointment will completely fade.  It will all flee away in the overwhelming joy and gladness of His very presence!  What a day that will be when I see Christ!  “One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase.”

Thank you, Lord, that even today in Your presence I can live a bit of that joy!


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Under Guarantee?

Scripture for Today: Psalm 89:2  “I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You have established Your faithfulness in Heaven itself.”

Our egg cooker finally died.  It had a good run.  Because we do not use it all that much, it lasted a good seven years.  Of course, it was no longer under guarantee.

I have yet to meet an appliance that is guaranteed forever.  In fact, in production, there is usually a planned year when the appliance is expected to breakdown.  It is in the interest of the manufacturer that the consumer spend money to replace it!  And of course, most often it will happen after the guarantee has expired.  We shrug our shoulders and say that nothing lasts forever!

Our verse for today contains a truth I want to declare today and every day of my life.  The love of God lasts forever!  Regardless of our limited perception, His love is faithful.  His love is firmly established and nothing can shake it!  How could the psalmist, David, declare such a thing?  His life was not easy.  Circumstances must have tempted him to doubt this truth.  He lost his baby son.  Yet he continued to believe in the love of God.

Over and over in Scripture God proclaims His love for me.  His Word often reads like a love letter.  There is nothing that can separate me from His constant and unconditional love.  Unlike any human relationship, it is under guarantee!  He has committed Himself to me and He is faithful.  He created me for this relationship.  All other loves in this life pale in comparison.

In our fallen world filled with broken relationships, sin and sickness, it is easy to lose sight of His love.  But today, regardless of the hard times, I declare His love for me!