Finding Hope in Small Things and God's Presence

Devotional

Day 1: Hope Often Shows Up in Small Things

We often overlook the small things in life, seeking grand gestures and big moments. However, Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God is like yeast and seeds - small, seemingly insignificant things that have a disproportionate impact. We should be looking for hope in these small things, for they are the harbingers of hope that God sends us ([09:40]).

Bible passage: Matthew 13:31-32 - "He told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.'"

Reflection: What small things in your life have you overlooked that could be sources of hope?

Day 2: Hope Emerges from Suffering

Suffering is a part of life that we all wish to avoid. Yet, scripture is clear that hope often emerges from suffering. It is through suffering that we grow and find ourselves deeply connected to God. It is through suffering that we mine for hope ([19:29]).

Bible passage: 1 Peter 5:10 - "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

Reflection: How has suffering in your life led you to a deeper connection with God and a stronger sense of hope?

Day 3: Hope is Found in God, Not Circumstances

Our ultimate hope is not in things or circumstances, it's in God. We often find ourselves hoping in possessions or outcomes, but Jesus reminds us that our hope is in His Kingdom ([03:09]).

Bible passage: Psalm 62:5-6 - "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."

Reflection: How can you shift your hope from circumstances to God?

Day 4: Hope Requires Patience

Waiting is a part of the journey of finding hope. It requires patience and trust in God's timing. It is in the silence and the waiting that we often find the hope we are seeking ([20:09]).

Bible passage: Romans 8:25 - "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Reflection: What are you waiting for in your life right now and how can you find hope in the waiting?

Day 5: Hope is a Journey

Finding hope is a journey that requires hard work. It is not an easy path, but it is one that leads us to the bedrock of hope that we are seeking. We are miners of hope, digging deep to find the hope that God has for us ([06:03]).

Bible passage: Romans 5:3-4 - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Reflection: How can you actively seek hope in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, I was reminded that our ultimate hope is not in things or circumstances, but in God. The speaker referenced Luke 12:32, where Jesus tells us not to be afraid, for our Father has been pleased to give us the kingdom. This verse follows Jesus' warning about the dangers of greed and the impermanence of material possessions. The speaker also shared a poignant anecdote about the 49ers during the gold rush, who exhausted themselves in search of treasure, drawing a parallel to our own search for hope. We are encouraged to become "miners of hope," embarking on a journey with God that may be hard work, but will ultimately lead us to the bedrock hope we seek.

In the second half of the sermon, I was reminded that hope often shows up in small things. We are encouraged to slow down and adjust our eyes to see the small ways in which God is showing us His presence. The speaker also emphasized the importance of patience and the willingness to endure suffering in our journey to find hope. We are challenged to extend hope to others and to reflect on how we might currently be missing the hope God wants for us because we are not paying attention to small things, are too impatient, or want to avoid suffering.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "Hope often shows up in small things... Jesus says that you are the light of the world, that the kingdom is like yeast and seeds and instead of talking about big things, Jesus spent a lot of time talking about very little minuscule things that would be easy to overlook but he says that's where the kingdom is and that's where we should be looking for hope." - 10:21

2. "Hope that you can count on, hope that will accompany you to those last breaths of your life because that's the only hope that really matters, that hope because that's the only one that's true and real and means something." - 23:14

3. "As we go on that journey and God fills us little by little with hope, how do we then extend that and make that available to other people? How do we give the gift of hope to others?" - 23:50

4. "Hope is contagious... I've been a Christian long enough to know that you sin inside where nobody can see it, not on the outside." - 26:12

5. "Hope that's a journey of our lives to be minors of hope not the easy way but to be looking in the small ways, in the patient ways, in the ways of suffering to find God's hope." - 29:50

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