Heather Kampf is an exceptional runner with impressive credentials. She once took first place in a 600-meter race after falling flat on her face! In the final 200 meters, just as she took the lead, Heather tripped and fell hard, leaving her at the back of the pack. She could easily have become discouraged and accepted what everyone was thinking—her race was over. But she didn’t stay down. Instead, Heather sprang up and immediately started catching up. To the amazement of everyone watching, she went on to win the race.
It’s tempting to quit when we face setbacks. Shame, depleted resources, and a bruised ego can leave us drained of hope. But Kampf’s comeback provides a reflection of the enduring hope we can experience in Jesus. Our response when we face a major setback is vital, and our hope is restored through renewed expectation in Him. Because of Christ we’re able to stand in the joy and confidence He provides: “We have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1-2).
And “we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment” (Romans 5:3-5).
We can become consumed by the weight of daily frustrations, but God’s perspective on our lives is eternal. When our hope remains firmly in Him, we can be confident that “since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. . . . [He] has made us friends of God” (Romans 5:9-11). In Jesus, our hope endures!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 4:23-37
More:
Read Psalm 39:4-7 and see how David proclaims that his hope rests in God alone.
Next:
Have you lost hope and become disillusioned with life? Why can we have joy and confidence in Jesus regardless of what we’re facing?
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 12:02 am
We stand in Grace, and rejoice in hope. We are thankful in tribulation, knowing that it leads to perseverance, character and hope that does not disappoint. We worship the Lord. This message of grace and God’s unfailing love invites us to devote ourselves wholly to the Lord. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us, demonstrating for all time the love that God has for us. If we ask, the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us will open our hearts and mind to understand the depth of God’s love for us. Then we must ask Him to enable us to express our devotion through worship to God.
No matter what we are facing, we know that God loves us and will see us through. That’s why we don’t have to worry about anything, because we trust in Him for all things. Sometimes it may seem like life is too hard to carry on, but our hope in Christ is our reason for living. Christ in us is our Hope of Glory!!
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 12:04 am
Thank you Ruth for this great reminder today that our hope is in Jesus and He will never disappoint.
asomdwe8590 on October 12, 2016 at 12:38 am
I am grateful to God for coming across this today. As a matter of fact, I am at the point in life just like Heather with my face flat on the ground with my hope is God starting to crumple down. But today’s Daily Journey has taught me that all that I am going through is for some significant developments to take place in my life : endurance, character and confidence of hope in Christ. I do believe my dead circumstance at this point of my life will be brought to life if only I do not give up HOPE in Christ. Thank you Ruth for allowing God to use to give me some assurance at this point of my life.
hsnpoor on October 12, 2016 at 11:35 am
asomdwe8590, today’s daily Bible reading on the My Utmost and ODB sites is Isaiah 40 for the OT reading. In light of what you’ve said and what you’re going through, I urge you to visit or revisit that reading as I believe it will help to bring you strength through your journey. God Bless!
Gary Shultz on October 12, 2016 at 5:34 am
Wow Ruth, some of the girls are up and at’m early today, so glad your article met the need. Our needs seem to be addressed on a rather regular basis. Life has a way of getting us down. I always like Psm 37: 23-24 when it comes to a fall, it doesn’t take much and our eyes are off the Lord and we miss place a step and we are down. Like the runner, we might be down, but by God’s grace we are never out. People think there is no hope, no reason to go on, but there is God, placed in our life’s path with a view that brings hope beyond circumstances……. Ruth, if I may, how is the new geographic location working out? Is life getting closer to normal? Thanks Ruth.
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Actually I didn’t get up until almost 7 which is kinda late for me since I usually try to be up by 6 a.m. I posted this last night before I went to bed.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on October 12, 2016 at 5:48 am
I thank God for bringing you to this space asomdwe8590 and pray you will continue to grow strong in your hope in Christ alone and thank you for your wise and encouraging words sandy229.
My son had a hard fall yesterday and his whole body ached when he got up this morning. Our usually brisk walk to school was a rather slow and painful one for him as he dragged himself to the top of the hill and along the path to the school gates. As I said goodbye, I sensed he was feeling a little low and when I chirpily said “It’s Wednesday, it’s gonna be a great day”. He responded by saying “It’s Wednesday – it’s gonna be a horrible day”. I bent down, cupped his face in my hands and reminded him that his Heavenly Father is with him at school and he has to choose to have a good attitude and focus on all that he’s grateful for. Then, I gave him a hug, told him I love him and sent him on his way, praying all the while for his heart to hope in Jesus throughout today. We hurt when we fall but when I think of how grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for helping me to pick myself up, dust myself off and carry on, I remain resolutely hopeful in Him today.
tim gustafson on October 12, 2016 at 7:00 am
Ruth, we have a son like that too. 🙂 You sound like a terrific mum!
hsnpoor on October 12, 2016 at 11:38 am
Indeed she does!
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 11:40 am
Yes, she does!! Good to see you Kim.
hsnpoor on October 12, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Thanks, Sandy!
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on October 12, 2016 at 5:53 am
Hi Gary, yes I see you weren’t first in this morning 😀 Thank you for asking – we’re settling in to our new place in England nicely although I am writing from a room surrounded with the clutter of unpacked boxes so, we’re not quite there yet. We are loving the ‘normality’ of our little family being together again though. Have a great day – full of hope!
gagirllive on October 12, 2016 at 7:22 am
Very encouraging, Ruth. Enduring hope—this is a resounding theme that we never tire of as we sojourn here. Just when we’re feeling a little deflated, one of you writers comes along and pumps a little air back into us with a good reminder to run with endurance. I’m thankful that the need was met for asomdwe8590 today. Like Heather, we’ve not only been called to run but also to “run to win”—to run with perseverance and a determination to win the race that is set before us by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12: 1, 2) So my prayer today is that the Holy Spirit would breathe into us a second wind that will renew our spiritual vitality to press onward. There’s a great song by Natalie Grant that fits perfectly with today’s devo. It’s called “Our Hope Endures”. Check it out. It’s beautiful and an added layer of blessing to what’s already been shared here today. Thanks, Ruth. Praying that your son recovers soon from his body aches and that his spirit will be uplifted as well. Grace and peace to everyone. ♡
hsnpoor on October 12, 2016 at 11:42 am
Hi GG! I join you in that prayer and I will look up that song later today!
gagirllive on October 12, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Hi, Kim! You’ve been AWOL! Glad you are well and with us again. Hope you enjoy the song. 🙂
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 1:13 pm
I’m sure you will love this song by Natalie, Kim. It’s beautiful.
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 11:55 am
You would think only
So much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume that this
One has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here
Chorus:
Sometimes the sun
Stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky
Rains night after night
When will it clear
But our hope endures
The worst of conditions
It’s more than our optimism
Let the earth quake.
Our hope is unchanged
How do we comprehend
Peace within pain
Our joy at a good man’s wake
Walk a mile with a woman
Whose body is torn
With illness
But she marches on
(Chorus)
(3x):
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
We never walk alone
This is our hope
Our hope endures
The worst of conditions
It’s more
Than our optimism
Let the earth quake.
Let the earth quake.
Let the earth quake.
Our hope is unchanged
hsnpoor on October 12, 2016 at 7:19 pm
Thank you for posting the words, Sandy. So true. The song is wonderful and Ms. Natalie has a beautiful voice!
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 11:56 am
This is a beautiful song GAgirl. Shalom
gagirllive on October 12, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Thank you for posting the words, Sandy! Our hope endures! 🙂
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 1:14 pm
You’re welcome GAgirl. This is really a beautiful. Our hope endures forever! 🙂
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 1:15 pm
song…. a beautiful song…
ng on October 12, 2016 at 7:32 am
Thank you Ruth for today’s devotion. I pray that the Lord will continue to use you. God bless you.
youssef1777 on October 12, 2016 at 9:04 am
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SHOW HIS GREAT LOVE IN THE CROSS . TRUST IN HIM WILL FILL OUR HEART WITH PEACE AND HOPE FOR BETTER LIFE .
sim jing ying on October 12, 2016 at 10:26 am
I have not at one time lost hope or become disillusioned because when we are weak then we are strong. I will always have joy and confidence in Jesus Christ as He has overcome the world and in His name we always have victory in everything.
street on October 12, 2016 at 10:47 am
sandy229 on October 12, 2016 at 11:44 am
Amazing video, thanks for sharing it with us……even though we heard about this, it’s so different seeing it 🙂
minkjh on October 12, 2016 at 5:59 pm
‘The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight’. That line from a beloved Christmas carol presents a stark contrast for us. Hope has such an uplifting and assuring composition to it, but lingering in the background lies its antithesis, fear. Regina could not have chosen a better example to illustrate that diverse struggle than the author who penned today’s letter to the Romans. Paul’s brief account of his life as a missionary in II Corinthians 11:24-28 should make us marvel at the tremendous physical and psychological endurance he possessed as he served the one he dearly loved. While his story ended in martyrdom, it did not result in complete failure. No, Paul looked forward with hope to entering into eternal glory with his Lord and Savior, or as the writer of Hebrews puts it, through faith, the assurance of things hoped for. Hope. Love. Faith. Now from whom have we heard that before?
minkjh on October 12, 2016 at 6:02 pm
A thousand pardons, Ruth, for missing your name. Multi-tasking was never my strong suit.
hsnpoor on October 12, 2016 at 7:40 pm
minkjh, rightly or wrongly, I tend to see the antithesis of hope as hopelessness, not fear. I see fear as the root cause of hate & as the antithesis to love. I see hope as a dichotomy of faith and despair. Not sure what you meant by “While his story ended in martyrdom, it did not result in complete failure”. Are you saying Paul’s martyrdom should cause us to see his life, in Christ, as a partial failure? Lastly, while I agree that Paul’s work as a missionary put him under a tremendous amount of pressure and caused him much pain and suffering, I marvel at the one he served for giving him the strength to endure the trials. I admire and want to imitate Paul’s sold out devotion to the Lord, but any marvel is reserved for the Lord Himself because He was the power behind the man. Paul simply, but beautifully, offered himself as a tool to be used by the Master Carpenter to accomplish the carpenter’s work.