Hope in the Middle: Remembering Faithfulness, Looking to Eternity

Devotional

Day 1: Hope arrives as light invading human darkness

When the story shifts and Jesus steps into Galilee, it announces that hope is not abstract but incarnational — light breaking into real human darkness. You are reminded that the birth and ministry of Jesus are the fulfillment of long-held promises: God showed up in the person of Jesus to begin undoing despair and to call people to repent because the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. In the middle of disappointments and delayed timing, this passage anchors expectation in a concrete historical event: the light has dawned, and that changes how you live today. [40:19]

Matthew 4:12-17 (ESV)
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Reflection: Where in your life right now do you feel surrounded by darkness or dead-end expectations, and what is one concrete way you can remind yourself today — with a Scripture, a worship song, or a short prayer — that the light of Christ has already come into that space?

Day 2: Remember God's faithfulness amid present suffering

When the weight of waiting presses in, rehearsing God's past faithfulness steadies the soul. The Scriptures repeatedly call God’s people to remember how God has acted — to name forgiven sins, healed diseases, and past deliverances — so that memory becomes a lifeline when hope feels thin. Rather than denying pain, this practice places real suffering beside the larger story of God’s consistent compassion and mercy, allowing grief and faith to coexist and anchoring expectation in who God has always proven to be. [55:12]

Lamentations 3:16-24 (ESV)
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;
he has trampled me in the dust;
17 my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is;
18 so I say, "My endurance has perished;
so has my hope from the Lord."
19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."

Reflection: List two specific ways God has been faithful in your past (big or small). Tonight, read those reminders aloud or write them on a card you carry so you can call them to mind the next time suffering makes you doubt.

Day 3: Fix eyes on the promised eternal new creation

Keeping sight of the coming new heaven and new earth reorients hope from temporary conditions to eternal realities. The promise that God will wipe away every tear and make all things new reframes present pain as transient and purposeful — part of a larger redemption story that culminates in God dwelling with his people forever. When the future hope of Revelation is set beside present struggles, suffering loses its finality and becomes a signpost pointing to the ultimate victory that makes waiting meaningful. [01:08:19]

Revelation 21:1-5 (ESV)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Reflection: Identify one current hardship that steals your joy; today, take five minutes to write a short paragraph imagining that hardship healed in the new creation — then pray that paragraph back to God as a way of training your hope toward eternity.

Day 4: Eternal perspective transforms temporary suffering

Seeing today’s troubles through the lens of eternity changes how suffering functions; it becomes momentary work that produces an eternal weight of glory. The apostle Paul encourages believers to stop fixating on what is seen and instead to look at what is unseen, because the unseen — God’s purposes and promises — are eternal. When the middle is hard, orienting daily rhythms (prayer, Scripture, service) around that future reality renews the inner person day by day even while the outer life frays. [58:42]

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Reflection: Choose one daily habit (a five-minute scripture reading, a moment of breath-prayer, or a short worship song) to do each morning this week that intentionally turns your mind toward eternal realities and renews your inner self.

Day 5: Messiah promised to defeat evil's power

From the first promise in Genesis, hope is anchored in a promised victory over evil: a descendant of the woman will deal the decisive blow against the serpent. This promise frames the entire redemptive story — the coming Messiah will enter human history, suffer, and yet prevail, showing that God’s plan reckons with evil not by ignoring it but by defeating it through sacrificial love. In the middle of fear and injustice, this foundational promise secures confidence that evil is neither final nor victorious. [46:39]

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

Reflection: Identify one fear or injustice that tempts you to despair; tonight, say aloud Genesis 3:15 and ask God to help you trust that the seed of the woman — Jesus — is actively working toward final defeat of that evil, then take one practical step this week (a phone call, a prayer, an act of service) that resists that fear in your sphere.

Sermon Summary

I launched our Christmas series, The Spirit of Christmas, by tracing how the birth and life of Jesus is the invasion of hope into real darkness. Matthew quotes Isaiah to say that those living in darkness have seen a great light—Jesus is that light. Hope isn’t vague optimism; it’s expectation of good for tomorrow. But many of us feel the opposite right now—disillusioned by headlines, exhausted by waiting, and unsure how to hold expectation in a world that keeps disappointing us.

We walked the long story of waiting—from Genesis 3:15’s first promise of a serpent-crushing Savior through centuries of pain, exile, and rule under empire—until Jesus arrives and begins fulfilling promise after promise. That tension between promise and fulfillment is where most of us live: the middle. I joked about the smoker on Father’s Day because some flavors only come through the slow wait. The same is true in discipleship: there are graces God forms in us only through time, testing, and valleys.

So how do we keep hope alive in the middle? Two keys. First, rehearse His past faithfulness. Scripture tells us again and again to remember—because memory is fuel for hope. Jeremiah models it in Lamentations: he names real pain without pretending, yet he drags his mind back to a greater truth—God’s mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. Second, fix your eyes on the future. Matthew stacks fulfillment to prove God keeps His word, and the apostles tell us to set our gaze on a living hope and an unfading inheritance. I used a rope to show how tiny our moment is compared to eternity; when we fixate on the millimeter, our hope rises and falls with circumstances. But when our eyes lift to forever, pain is not erased—it’s repurposed into a weight of glory.

Our hope isn’t tethered to political cycles, bank accounts, or personal strength. It’s anchored to the God who breathed out stars, took on flesh, bore our sins on the cross, and rose bodily from the grave. He will come again. Revelation 21 promises a Day when tears and death are abolished and all things are made new. Until then, in the middle, we remember His past and we look to His future.

Key Takeaways

1. Waiting forms flavors of faith There are realities of Christ you only taste on the slow road—comfort that comes from valleys, provision learned in lack, and courage born from walking through shadows. The wait is not punishment; it’s formation. When desire and delay collide, God seasons our lives with depth that convenience can’t produce. Let the process do its work. [49:25]
2. Rehearse God’s past faithfulness Hope withers when memory fades. Tell your soul the stories again—how He forgave, healed, rescued, and crowned you with compassion. When you can’t trace His hand in the present, anchor yourself to His track record; His character has not changed. Recall, and hope revives. [51:47]
3. Fix eyes on eternal future If all your hope is tied to this week, despair is inevitable. Scripture calls us to a living hope and an unfading inheritance, to focus on what is unseen and eternal. Lift your gaze; eternity reframes pain, and present troubles start working for a glory that lasts. [62:02]
4. Name pain, cling to character Faith is not denial. Like Jeremiah, say the hard things and still “call to mind” a greater truth—His mercies are new, His compassions do not fail, and He is your portion. Honesty brought to God becomes worship; He meets real sorrow with real presence. [55:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:19] - Christmas birthday and expectations
[43:23] - When expectation fades with age
[46:39] - The first gospel in Genesis 3:15
[49:25] - The smoker and the wait
[51:47] - Key 1: Rehearse His faithfulness
[55:12] - Lamentations: naming pain, calling to mind
[58:42] - Key 2: Eyes on the future
[62:02] - Rope illustration: time and eternity
[65:30] - Come, Lord Jesus: our shared ache
[68:19] - Hope anchored in the risen Christ
[71:48] - Invitation to surrender fully
[74:45] - Prayer for hope in the middle

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 4:12–17 — 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Observation Questions

What specific details in verses 13–16 link Jesus’ location and movement to the Isaiah prophecy? How do those geography details shape the meaning of “light” for Matthew’s original audience?
Verse 17 says, “From that time Jesus began to preach.” What is the content of that preaching, and why might Matthew place that announcement immediately after the Isaiah quote?
The pastor used the example of learning flavor by waiting with a smoker to illustrate how waiting forms faith. What exact parallel did he draw between smoking meat and spiritual formation? [49:25]
The sermon gave a dictionary-style definition of hope as “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” How did the pastor use that definition to describe the problem many people face today? [43:23]

Interpretation Questions

What does Matthew’s use of Isaiah (light invading darkness) suggest about the timing and character of God’s intervention—does it read as an immediate fix, an ongoing invasion, or something else? Be specific about which phrases in the text support your answer.
Jeremiah in Lamentations names his pain and then says, “Yet this I call to mind,” returning his mind to God’s mercies. How does that pattern (honest lament + deliberate memory) interpret the tension between present suffering and hope? What might that look like for someone in prolonged pain? [55:12]
Paul’s teaching (quoted in the sermon) contrasts outward “wasting away” with inward renewal and calls believers to fix their eyes on what is unseen. How should that tension alter the way a Christian evaluates present success, loss, or suffering? Consider both belief and daily behavior. [01:02:02]
The pastor said, “the wait is not punishment; it’s formation.” What concrete signs would indicate God is forming someone through waiting (rather than simply delaying or closing a door)? Use examples from the sermon or your own experience. [49:25]

Application Questions

Rehearse his past faithfulness: Name two specific stories from your life (big or small) that show God’s kindness or rescuing work. When and to whom will you tell one of those stories this week? Make a plan. [51:47]
Practice Jeremiah’s pattern: Identify one present hurt, loss, or fear you’ve been avoiding naming. Write one honest sentence that names it, and then write one short truth about God you will “call to mind” in the face of that pain. Share them with the group if you’re comfortable. [55:12]
Lift your gaze to eternity: Choose one tangible habit you will use this month to reframe your day-to-day by the promise of Revelation 21 (examples: memorize a short verse from Revelation 21:1–5, set a weekly “eternity reminder” alarm to pray for Christ’s return, or read one paragraph of Revelation each morning). Which habit will you start and when? [01:08:19]
Where is your “millimeter” of hope? Name one area (job, savings, political outcome, relationship, health) where you’ve tied your expectation for good to immediate results. What is one practical step you will take this week to loosen that grip and anchor hope to Christ instead? (Example steps: remove a news app, give a financial plan to a mentor, schedule a spiritual conversation.) [01:02:02]
Let the process do its work: Pick one fruit of growth you think God might be forming in you through a long season (e.g., greater patience, dependence, compassion). What is one daily or weekly discipline you will adopt for 30 days to help that fruit develop? (Be specific: when, where, how long.) [49:25]
Be a memory-carrier for others: Is there someone in your family, workplace, or friendship circle who is losing expectation of good? Identify that person and a concrete way you can rehearse God’s faithfulness to them in the next two weeks (call to share a testimony, invite them to church/small group, pray for them in person). Set a day/time now. [51:47]

Sermon Clips

There are certain flavors in your walk with Jesus that only come out in the wait. There are certain characteristics that God produces in us that only come out in time-tested discipleship. There are certain things you only produce in your life when you have walked through the valley of the shadow of death. [00:50:29] (22 seconds) #FaithInTheWait

If you're gonna maintain hope in the middle, you got to rehearse his past faithfulness. I love that in the Bible it tells us over 90 times to remember either God's promises, his faithfulness, or his covenants with us. Over 90 times it tells us to remember. [00:52:19] (18 seconds) #RehearseHisFaithfulness

Do you allow those to lead you to a place where you're disillusioned and you're jaded and you lack hope and you become bitter, or do you take the reality of the pain and lay it before the foot of the cross and say Jesus, I may not understand, Jesus, I might not understand what's happening in my life, but you are my comforter? [00:55:58] (20 seconds) #LayItAtTheCross

There comes a point where we have to just say to ourself, yes I might be depressed, yes I might be walking through lack, yes I might be walking through sickness, but Jesus is my portion, Jesus is better, Jesus is my healer, Jesus is my provider. You've got to remind your soul of a greater reality. [00:57:25] (22 seconds) #JesusIsMyPortion

When I don't understand his hand, I cling to his character. You are good and you've always been good, you are kind and you've always been kind, you are grace and you've always been graceful to me. Remind yourself in the middle, rehearse it—his faithfulness, his kindness, his goodness. [00:57:51] (18 seconds) #ClingToHisCharacter

If God promised something, he will fulfill it. Every word of God proves true, it just may not be on your timeline, but God is faithful to do every single thing he promised. [00:58:56] (16 seconds) #GodKeepsHisPromises

Your pain is real, but God redeems pain. God uses pain to grow you and if you will suffer well—hear me, I know we don't like that phrase—God redeems pain and causes it to become this eternal glory that begins to well up inside of you and there will be a day when you experience his fullness. [01:04:26] (25 seconds) #RedeemedThroughPain

Yes, there's pain in the middle, yes there's doubts, yes there's confusion, but when I know how the story ends, my pain pales in comparison to the beauty of Jesus that we're going to see. [01:08:10] (16 seconds) #BeautyBeyondPain

``The hope I experience in the middle, it's not linked to nations and political parties and economies and politicians. See, the hope I have in the middle, the hope I have in the middle is linked to a God that breathed the stars into existence and that same God put on skin and bones and lived a perfect sinless life and that same exact God put his arms up upon a cross and he had nails in his hands and nails upon his feet and he died for the sins of humanity opening up a way for all who would believe for salvation. [01:08:37] (38 seconds) #HopeInTheMiddle

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