Natural disasters have ravaged homes and displaced families. War, genocide, and injustices have stolen countless innocent lives. Divisions in our country, even within our faith, seem impossible to bridge. Family relationships feel beyond repair. Life circumstances seem hopeless. There is the heartache, ailments, and infirmities we or our loved ones carry. Our sin and brokenness feel too heavy a burden to bear.
We are a long way from where humanity first started in the garden of Eden, and we feel it deeply. From the world in which we are living to our very bodies and souls, nothing has escaped the impact of sin and brokenness.
If you’re like me, some days the best you can do is cling to a thread of hope in God’s promise to make all things new. I wonder if the Jewish people felt the same way around the time of Jesus’ birth.
Given the centuries-old promise of a good and victorious King and an everlasting kingdom, did they question God’s faithfulness as they endured under Roman rule? They were the ones God had trusted to represent the people to God, but they had abused their power and taken advantage of the vulnerable—the sick, the lowly, the marginalized, the sinful who lived cast out from society.
Did they grow weary in waiting for Christ their Savior to come?
I’m sure many did. Yet those who remembered God’s faithfulness to His people in the past were able to endure to the very end, even when all hope seemed lost—especially then.
When my eyes are fixed on the brokenness of the world around me, I am prone to despair. It all seems too broken to fix, too far beyond hope. But when I am able to pull my eyes off the mess and lift them to God, I am reminded that even if all else fails, He has and will always be faithful to fulfill His promises. It is who He is. He can’t be any different.
This Advent season, we celebrate and remember God’s demonstration of faithfulness to His people—that while we were still sinners, God sent His Son to earth as a baby, to live a holy life, to die a criminal’s death, and to defeat death once for all, that whoever believes in Him shall be saved (Romans 5:8,10:9).
May our reflections this Christmas season give us renewed hope that He who has been faithful to His promises in the past will be faithful to His promise to bring the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness reigns and sin and brokenness will be no more. And may we experience the nearness of God’s presence until He does.
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65 thoughts on "Hope of All the Earth Thou Art Day 17"
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Amen!
“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”
Such a good word and timely encouragement for me. Thank you Alice!
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From Groans to Glory- “keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord” psalm 141.
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I have been feeling hopeless in so many situations, this was a reminder that my trust need not waiver.
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Praying Pam!
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@PamC with a copay like that, it sure doesn’t seem the med was approved. Good luck.
loved this!
Amen.
I have a hard time remembering that God promises us this great future. In our moments of life – easy and hard – we get focused on the here and now and lose sight of the true promise. I do feel like we can see glimpses of that promise in our day to day life – moments of joy, laughter, accomplishment, peace, quiet, love. But do we look to those moments as part of the ultimate promise?
@pamc, I’m praying!! I’m so sorry you are going through this. ❤️
I’m not always thinking about heaven very often, but I know this is definitely something to look forward to. Especially when this world doesn’t satisfy, I remind myself that we were made for another place. It’s also comforting to know that I will be perfect as well. ❤️
I have been walking around lately saying, “we are doomed.” I say this to my husband. I realize I need to stop watching the so called news. I feel that it has changed from journalists to influencers. I feel “despair”! I’m so much more at peace when I focus on God and not our ways in the world. Peace at knowing we are saved. That our day of advent will come.
Be blessed and know you CAN ALWAYS stand on the promises of the Lord.
I’m struggling this morning y’all. I think I mentioned previously that I needed prayer for the insurance company to approve some new medication for my diabetes. They did…the co-pay is $595 a month! That’s over half of my SSI. Sheesh. So…now I have to go to the manufacturer & pray that they will approve me for their program. I get 1 shot at this. If I don’t qualify there aren’t any other ways they have to lower the cost for seniors. So I’m asking for prayer again, please because this is a long & protracted process. Thanks y’all.
Come lord Jesus!
TheBestIsYetToCome- praying for you, I trust God’s perfect will will be done!
Oh, how I’m longing for the new heavens and the new earth today! We just received news that my sister-in-law and best friend is in the last stages of cancer, barring a miracle. Please pray for her and our family! I’m so thankful we are on this side of the promise of the Messiah and that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling with us! I pray for each of you today to know His great love and redemption this Christmas season! Maranatha!
Good morning She’s! This was a beautiful study today in the Word to the things to come! After a few days with my sister’s family and her and my twenty-somethings, you see how far away the world is apart from God and it definitely does sadden and deplete you. Thank you Lord for giving us these promises, reviving us with hope, despair will be joy, your light will prevail! But I also long for our family to love the God if yester, today, and always.
I’m currently in the airport and anxious to get back home! Praying for a safe flight and comfort for my back!prayers for you @thebestisyettocime for Thursday! That is such a hard and trying situation! I work for a public defender in these cases and see the struggles and trials of these poor kids! Bless you for stepping up and in to care for them and love them.
@Mindy so beautifully said!!
17 “For I will create new heavens and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.”
What great hope we have!!! There are so many things on this earth that hurt us, it’s to wonderful to know that we won’t remember these things!!!
“A new Heaven and a new earth!” I (as I’m sure all of you) can’t wait! Happy Tuesday sweet SRT sisters. Last night my sweet, young classmate and I met to set up our study guide for our Final. I’m grateful for her young mind to help my old mind to help me study. She’s been such a blessing! Most of all she loves Jesus!
To @KaityMeade. (I struggle with posting and commenting on my phone, it double posted somehow).
To @KairyMeade
The last verse in the Ezekiel passage: “You are my flock, the human flock of my pasture, and I am your God. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’ ” Powerful and hope-filled promise!!!
The heading for the Romans passage jumped out at me today: ‘FROM GROANS TO GLORY’. That sums things up pretty well!
Because He is a promise keeping God we have a glorious future awaiting us. Every day we are closer to the reality of it. The best of this world pales in comparison. When darkness seems pervasive, let us turn to Jesus. He is the Light of the world, this one and the one to come.
Katy Meade, yes. I’m thinking the point being made to people who experience death now, is that death would be a rare (non existent) thing. Infants dying was commonplace, but will no longer be a thing. Yes I found it confusing but paired with Rev. 21 the confusion is resolved.
@KAITYM just remember to let scripture, interpret scripture, and the language here is metaphorical. This is the beauty and the mystery of spending time in the word, I pray that God will enlighten your mind and give you understanding in his timing. 
@Rebecca W- thank you for your comments yesterday <3 God bless you!!! :)
@Kris- praise God for restoring! With Him all things are possible! May that be the case for your family @Heather O.! God bless you and keep you in perfect peace.
@thebestisyettocome- May God be near to you all. May He give you great confident and assurance that He will help you and prosper you. If God is FOR us, who can be against us? May your heart rest in knowing He is faithful and will help you in every moment.
Studying end times makes me so so so excited. I loved the book of Revelation before I even understood it, lol! I did not read the Bible in high school, but at one point I cracked it open and said, "This is the end of the world and I want to understand it." So I tried to read it but was so lost in my understanding. I obviously needed some guidance, so I wasn't really encouraged. Now, I look back and see that even in my lack of understanding, I knew God's word was the truth about it all. I doubted, but His word was still in me. I study now with such joy, and am still learning what I believe about the end… It's fascinating to try and figure out the timeline of events! May God's word continue to excite us all and draw us near to Him. The One who sits enthroned forever.
Good morning, this devotion has given me renewed hope and faith, so grateful to be a part of this group. I am a foster mom and the most important hearing so far in our case is this Thursday at 9 AM EST. Could you please lift up baby H & C(me) asking for favor from the Judge and also faith for me to continue to keep my eyes on the Lord, not on my circumstances!! For His Peace that passes all understanding! Luv u SRT sisters!
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The Bible commentary I am reading today says. In heaven… God will answer our prayers while we are still speaking. Recovery will take away many of our pains on earth, the coming the glory of Gods Kingdom will bring us JOY forever ❤️
That’s beautiful Kris!!
@KaityMeade It is saying infants won’t die anymore. As for death, I think it is saying the young man won’t even be old until after 100. But yes, the death part is confusing. However, from what I understand, this is still even a trial. It’s the next time that those who stay faithful will remain with God forever.
I shall love this life all while knowing the best is yet to come.
Anyone else confused by the Isaiah passage? Descriptions of death and having children in the new earth?
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The hope we have for today lies in this: The new creation has already begun. Christ came to establish the everlasting Kingdom. The new and wondrous life began on the day God chose to raise Him from death and altered the universe forever. Hope is here. To know Jesus is to know love that never ends. As we progress through this life we add light to light and love to love. I can barely contain the thoughts of His unending and ever increasing love for me. I am on my way to a better place, the best place, God’s eternal Kingdom. So, if this is the way, I will rejoice and be glad on this path as I am led by God’s truth and light. How could I not when I know where I am heading? I am sealed in His promise and nothing that comes my way will change that. Selah. Maranatha. Amen.
Amen
Hallelujah!
Praying for you, Heidi, that you can finish strong this semester and that you have time to make beautiful memories with your children.
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Praise God, Kris! My husband has been estranged from his sister for 8 years, and I pray one day God will restore what has been torn apart.
So thankful He is making all things NEW. What a promise to remember at this time of year…such a beautiful time, but so many are hurting and broken.So thankful for His peace!
Oh the hope found in Christ ❤️
Just as all things were created through Jesus (John 1:3), all things will be made new by Him (Revelation 21:5). We, as well as all of creation, are eagerly waiting for that day when He makes everything new and fully adopts His children, completely redeeming our bodies (Romans 8:18-25). Righteousness dwells in the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13), because Jesus is our Righteousness. Life will abound in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 22:1) because Jesus is Life and the Giver of life. The nations will be healed (Revelation 22:2) because Jesus is Healer and His blood heals us from the wounds and illnesses caused by sin. The curse is removed (Revelation 22:3) because Jesus’s death removed the curse from us and He will completely remove the curse from all of creation and pour abundant blessings upon it and restore it. The is only light in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 22:5) because Jesus is the Light of the World and there will be nothing there to obscure His light and glory. As I count down the days from the beginning of December to Christmas Day, it reminds me to number my days here on earth. I do not know how many days I am given, but I must make each day count for eternity and do everything I can to glorify God here on earth so that I can proclaim who He is to a watching world. When I see the lights shining, it reminds me that Jesus is the Light of the world and His light will shine in the darkness; and one day, there will be no darkness left to obscure His light. The days of waiting for Christmas since the day after Thanksgiving (or before for some you) teaches me how we live with eager anticipation for the day Jesus returns as King and He will make everything new. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time or not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Amen!
Pretty cool how this is the second day in a row where the devotional ties in with something my pastor shared in church on Sunday. When we focus too much on the sin and brokenness of the world or focus too much on ourselves (which are also sinful and broken), this leads to despair. But when we fix our eyes on God and His faithfulness, we find freedom and can rest in His promises. Lord I pray I would be reminded of Your faithfulness each and every day, and put my trust not in myself, but in You. Amen <3
Kris…..thank you for your testimony…..believing the same for broken relationships to be miraculously healed, reconciled and restored this Christmas!
Thank Jesus for His promises. We have hope that is unseen and we can walk confidently in it!
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Father hear our prayers, deliver us from evil and give us Your peace. In Jesus name, Amen
BRIANNA PARKER- praying for the man in your church and his family this morning :)
ERIN LAWALLEN- hope you are resting well and know you are being prayed over today :)
Would love prayers of motivation, energy, peace, wisdom as I try to finish out this first semester of seminary. I have more to be done/turned in than I see time or even comprehension for how to do and it feels really heavy. I’m already going to have to miss my two older elementary children’s C’mas parties this week and that’s disappointing… There is just so much…
Any sisters out there with estranged or broken family relationships be encouraged. God has healed a 7 year rift in mine this Christmas season. I had given up hope of even seeing my parents again, BUT GOD. He is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.
Kelly (Neo) you rock! Summarizing all the prayer requests so beautifully. I pray you know in your heart just how wonderful you are, my friend!
Amen! This is the hope that grounds all our other hopes. Our hope is not just that we will attain the good things we desire, not just that God will bring back our wayward loved ones, not just that we will be continually freed from the vice grip of sin. Yes, these and so much more. We are waiting for a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells and nothing is accursed and it is coming! It is coming! These words that we read today are trustworthy and true! Our God will do it! I am so encouraged!
I think we all need hope.
Is. 65:17b “the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.”
O for that day!
ERIN LAWALLEN – praying all goes well with your surgery and your recovery. Agreeing with you that there would be no cancer.
FOSTER MAMA – so good to see you here ❤
DOROTHY – praying Holy Spirit will comfort your stressed mind and help you work out of His love and peace.
BRIANNA PARKER – praying for your church family member’s full recovery
ALLIE MCCANDLESS – praying for the Lord to bring you a deep sense of His presence and may you find comfort amd fellowship from your church family.
Standing on His promises today. ❤️
Another old hymn has come to mind lately, especially from the previous line, “let us find our rest in thee.” The words are so rich. I hope they bring joy and rest to you as you read them. Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Oh, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
Oh, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.