God of Lost Causes

[Daniel answered,] “My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.” –Daniel 6:22

Sometimes a situation looks so completely hopeless that we simply give up.  The cancer has spread; the judge rules; the spouse packs his/her bags and walks out the door; the pink slip arrives on our office desk.  And with that, our future is determined.  We become a lost cause and our situation is irreversible.  But our God is the God of lost causes!  He takes joy in turning the most impossible situations around.

Talk to anyone who regularly serves in prison ministry. Some of these folks are in prison for life.  Sounds like a lost cause, doesn't it?  But when God gets involved, these lost causes find new purpose.  Maybe they still have to stay in prison, but they find meaning to their life and a purpose to those days.

Many of us can tell a story from our personal lives of a loved one who was told by a doctor that they were dying, but years later they are still living full, happy lives.  … or a marriage that everyone gave up on where the couple is now celebrating their 25th anniversary.  …or a lost job that led to a more fulfilling career.  We can all tell the stories of God having the last word, can’t we?

If we look up the word "fear" or "afraid" in the Bible we will find that the majority of hits reference it as "do not fear," “be not afraid” or “why are you afraid?”  No matter what happens in our life, God has the final word. Maybe he will turn the situation completely around or maybe he will simply bring good out of a bad situation, or perhaps he just has a new purpose for our lives. But if we trust Him we have no need to be afraid.  When the seemingly hopeless happens to us, we need only wonder how God will work in it for our good.

Holy God,
Thank you for being the God of lost causes.  When our situation seems hopeless, remind us that you always have the last word.   Amen.

Joys:  Abeautiful day for a hike; classic Christmas movies; electronic gadgets