Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – the journey of hope is not easily embraced. We want a sign to assure us, even when a sign has shown us.
Luke 1:18-19,37 TPT
[18] Zechariah asked the angel, “How do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is too old to give me a child. What sign can you give me to prove this will happen?” [19] Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand beside God himself. He has sent me to announce to you this good news.
37] “Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!”
Observation
Good news seems so hard to receive. God promises Zechariah exactly what he is desperate for – a son. But because of his circumstances, old and a barren wife, he looks an angel in the eyes and says “How do you expect me to believe this?” He is being visited by an angel, but wants a sign?!? And Gabriel seems astounded by his request for a sign, “I am Gabriel. I stand beside God himself,” what more of a sign do you want?
It seems we are afraid of hope. We are afraid to walk the road between promise and fulfilment, we are afraid to hope that what God says will come to pass. Even when we have an angelic visitation we are afraid of hope. Our circumstances scream no way, it can’t happen. Emotionally we are so invested in our circumstances. And we seem to rely more on our emotional lens and circumstantial lenses than we do on the promises of God. If I receive your promise, if I put my hope in what you say, or who you are, and walk in this hope, then this is too dangerous, I might be let down. I would rather disqualify myself now than walk in hope and be let down. Assure me that what you say will happen, “What sign can you give me to prove this will happen?” Then, and only then will I risk hope. But when is the sign enough? Angel visitations who personally deliver the promises don’t seem to overcome the fear of being let down. Hope is so hard for us, but we need it so desperately.
God tells us – “Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!” This is the promise for his promises. This is the promise that God invites us to put our hope in. When this is not my wishful thinking but my bankable assurance, then I can stand in hope while I walk into the fulfilment of his promises.
Application
I will live in this promise, that I may see his character and promise fulfilled in my life. I will not demand sign upon sign, I will not demand further assurance of his faithfulness outside what he has already shown me. I will live in assured hope. I will listen to my emotions but not receive them as truth. I will be aware of my circumstances, but not shaped by them. I will live in assured hope that my God will be herself and be faithful to all that he has said, always. I will not be afraid of hope.
Response
Thank you for the life lived and walked in hope. It requires intimacy, it leads to rich gratitude, and it is a bigger life than the one I could live by sight, emotions and circumstances. I love the life of hope.
Meditation
Meditate – Not one promise from God is empty of power.
Consider:
How often do I stand before the risen King and say show me a sign so I can believe what you have said?
How much do I allow my emotions and circumstance to shape my reality as opposed to hope?
JOURNEY DEEPER
