[NFBF-L] Devotions for December 4

[billoutmannfb at gmail.com]

Well, it doesn’t have anything to do with blindness directly, though our blindness issues could be included in the sentiment.  Peggy sent it to the Communities of Faith list with a CC to NFBF-L, don’t know if she meant to do that.  At least now some are aware that venue exists if they are interested in such things, but know going in that it is Christian oriented.  

Still, it is valuable to remember we can still have hope even in a time of frustration, uncertainty  and turmoil.   I know a lot of us are in a deep state of concern on a lot of issues including those directly relating to blindness given the political changes we are seeing.  There can be sharply differing opinions on whether that change is good, and the election results indicate it is less of a mandate than some are portraying.

Not everyone takes things on a faith basis, but keeping hope alive is all we can do, the alternative is to capitulate to whatever status quo we are concerned about.  

Bill Outman 

 

 

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of marion.gwizdala--- via NFBF-L
Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 11:48 AM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: marion.gwizdala at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NFBF-L] Devotions for December 4

 

Not really sure what this has to do with blindness and the NFB. I did not realize this was a religion oriented discussion list.

 

Marion Gwizdala

 

 

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Peggy Fleischer via NFBF-L
Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 5:53 AM
To: Communities Of Faith Nfb Florida <nfbfl-faith at groups.io <mailto:nfbfl-faith at groups.io> >; NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >; NFBFDaytona <nfbf-daytona at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-daytona at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Peggy Fleischer <peggy.lynn.fleischer at gmail.com <mailto:peggy.lynn.fleischer at gmail.com> >
Subject: [NFBF-L] Devotions for December 4

 

Psalm 137

 

Hope When Things Go Wrong in the World

Yesterday, we said hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

But what about when all the evidence this Christmas tells you the future might only bring more pain? When forces outside of your control, like war, the economy, and sickness, cause chaos all over the world.

If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone. Around 500 years before Jesus, the people of God were invaded, captured, and forcibly deported to a faraway nation. They were separated from their families, homes, and, for many, their hope.

Their forced migration is called the exile, and its trauma influenced countless Scriptures.

Today, you’ll read a lament (a pain-filled song of praise) by a few of these people. These exiles were musicians, but after their capture, they were taken as servants or slaves to work at a farm in a nation called Babylon. Their captors asked them to play the music of their people, and they responded with despair, saying something like, “How could we sing songs of hope and praise to God when we’ve experienced so much pain?”

Global events outside their control made hope feel impossible. Can you relate?

When things go wrong in the world, it feels like evidence that God is against us, ignoring us, or He’s left us behind. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Throughout their time in Babylon, the people of God not only survived, but learned to thrive. They discovered God was present in their pain, and God still had a plan for their future.

In fact, one of the most famous Bible verses (Jeremiah 29:11) is about God’s plan for His people in exile. In that verse, He promises to give them hope and a future. And God delivered on His promise.

Your pain isn’t evidence God doesn’t care or is far off. It’s evidence that God is still working on His plan to make all things new.

True hope doesn’t ignore the pain of life. Instead, it trusts God’s plan despite the worst life has to offer.

Yes, it’s a slow process. And it’s normal to get frustrated with God’s timing. But when we look at the experience of the exile, we see the evidence of God’s faithfulness in the middle of pain and in the fulfillment of His promises.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You that even in the darkest of times, You are working for good. Help me to have hope even when things are hard in my life. Help me to share the hope I have in You with those around me. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Reflect or Discuss:

What is one thing in the world that makes things feel dark? How do you hope God will work good through that thing?

Peggy Fleischer

Second vice president national Federation of the blind of Florida

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20241205/9cdad723/attachment.htm>