SEVENTEEN Day Seventeen | March 13 Hope

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

– Shel Silverstein –

In Genesis, chapter 24, Abraham is an old man worrying about the future. He sends a trusted servant back to his homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac. His servant arrives in Nahor and prays that God will show him the right woman by having her come and draw water from a well and o er to draw water for his camels as well.

Before finishing his prayer, a young woman named Rebekah came to the well and did exactly as he had prayed. Rebekah would be the person Abraham had hoped for. She was from the right family lineage and was known for her beauty and faithfulness.

We read this story, and we see how God was orchestrating the details to answer Abraham’s prayer. This was no coincidence that Rebekah arrived at the right time, at the right place, with the right heart.

One commentator noted: “Rebekah had to plan her day to go out to the well exactly as she did to arrive exactly then, every event of that day had to take place exactly as it did. The slightest delay or lack of delay and it wouldn’t have happened. Behind every event are countless previous events in an incalculable chain of time leading up to and causing that event to happen just as it does. And it is not only a chain of time, but of space. Surrounding every event are countless other contributing events, countless interactions and confluences. A gust of wind, a drop of rain, the movement of the sun and stars, the gravity of a galaxy.”

That is why we hope. We know that our Savior is providing for us in ways that we cannot begin to fathom. Even as we pray, a chain of events are taking place that will converge to answer our prayers. That is why we a rm with Paul: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We hope because we trust that the God who created the universe is at work directing, coordinating, and moving events for our good.

So, in times of trouble, when the future is uncertain … when we feel stuck and don’t know what to do, take a deep breath. And remember the Source of our hope. There is more going on than ever meets the eye. God loves us with a love that is greater than time and space!