Blessed Are Those Who Believe

Thomas wanted proof. He wanted to see the wounds, touch the scars, and remove every doubt before he’d believe. But Jesus turned Thomas's hesitation into a blessing declared across centuries:

“Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.”

John 20:29

That blessing includes us.

We’ve never watched Jesus calm a storm, raise the dead, or step out of an empty tomb. Yet through the testimony of Scripture, the witness of the apostles, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, we’ve come to know Him deeply.

Biblical faith isn't blind faith. It’s grounded trust in a Savior who’s revealed Himself through real history - fulfilling prophecy, transforming lives, and conquering death. While the world says, "Seeing is believing," Jesus flips the script: Believing is blessed.

If you’re walking through a season where you can't see what God is doing, take heart. Faith doesn't mean having every answer figured out - it means trusting the One who holds them.

One day, our faith will finally become sight. Until then, blessed are those who believe.

- David Delfeld

Provided by "I Am With You Always"

Prayer: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less Than Jesus

Lord, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus, the solid rock on which I stand.

Everything else in this life is shifting sand, temporary and unreliable, but You are the foundation that will never crumble, never fail, never let me down.

Teach me to anchor my hope in You alone, not in my circumstances, not in other people, not in my own strength or plans, but in the unchanging truth of who You are.

Help me recognize when I'm building my life on shaky ground, when I'm trusting in what's temporary instead of what's eternal, when I'm leaning on anything other than You.

Remind me that when everything else falls apart, when plans fail and dreams shatter and nothing goes the way I hoped, You remain, steady and sure and worthy of my trust.

Give me the wisdom to build my life on the solid foundation of Your truth, Your promises, Your character, knowing that what's built on You will stand no matter what storms come.

Let my hope be unshakeable because it's rooted not in what I can see or control but in Jesus, the rock of my salvation, my anchor in every season.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Provided by "Faithful Grace"

Securely Anchored When Life Feels Unsteady

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,
and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has
entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest
forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NKJV)

My daughter and I were recently hiking at Yosemite National Park, one of our favorite places to see God’s creation on display. From the valley floor, glorious granite cliffs rose up all around, and we passed some climbers who were scaling one of the epic rock faces. Although the climb looked precarious and we were awed by their courage, we also trusted they were safe because we could see their harnesses.

They were strapped in and tied to an anchor, a secure point of attachment on the rock. Four carabiners (metal fasteners) were clipped into the anchor and connected to ropes securing each person’s harness.

Climbers can trust their anchor to hold them in place. While there is a stretchiness and give to the ropes, allowing climbers to move around, the anchor remains strong and immovable.

The same is true of a ship’s anchor, which is what the author of Hebrews had in mind in the first century when he wrote to encourage believers not to abandon their faith:

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20).

Several keywords are worth paying attention to in this passage, including "strong" and “trustworthy.” These are descriptions of our hope in Jesus. He is steadfast, stable, and secure.

When we are clipped into Him, like those rock climbers connected to their anchor, we can have confidence in His strength. When we spend time with Him, praying and talking to Him regularly, we can see how He is trustworthy.

Are you feeling uncertain about a big decision? Waiting on a diagnosis? Maybe you have had a rough month financially or you are feeling anxiety about this week’s headlines. Jesus is the secure anchor who can hold you in place. Through His sacrifice on the cross, we have direct access to our Father in heaven.

Scripture serves almost like the carabiner keeping us connected to our Anchor. When we read the Bible, we are reminded of truth and cling to hope. We can also stay tied to the community of believers who help us remain tethered to Christ.

Jesus came to earth to be our “High Priest” (Hebrews 6:20), reconnecting us to God our Rock - and He holds us steady even when we are climbing uphill.

Dear God, You are the Rock of Ages, the firm Anchor we can trust. Help us stay close to You. Provide a community of friends to hold us accountable and encourage us to abide in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Meme: Hope In Christ

Don't Let Disappointment Define Your Year

“… but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

The holidays come with a lot of expectations. This can be a glaring reminder of all that hasn’t changed in the past 365 days - and I’ll raise my hand first to say I’m walking into this season with a lot of unmet expectations in tow.

Between the busyness of the season, shopping for gifts, and trying to finish all of our work before taking time off, it's hard to find time to process the unfulfilled dreams we may have had for this time of year.

Which leaves room for hopelessness to creep in.

Maybe you thought this year you’d have someone to bring home with you.

Maybe you thought you’d get to share a pregnancy announcement.

Maybe you thought you’d be over that particular struggle or you'd have something new and noteworthy to share at the family dinner table.

But Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that we can still have hope in the midst of disappointment: “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

When we put our hope “in the LORD” and not in our circumstances, we don’t have to let disappointments define our whole year. Every year can be marked by hope in the midst of what has been hard.

Hope in the Lord is the best kind of hope. The kind we don’t have to be afraid of letting us down. The kind that doesn’t make us embarrassed, disappointed, or ashamed. Rather, it helps us run the race of life God has gifted us with. And we don’t have to stay weary in the waiting; the Lord gives us strength for each step.

We need the hope of Christmas this year more than ever. Not in the Hallmark-y, happy-ending sort of way but for the real reason we celebrate: Our Savior came and is coming again soon. And that’s worth putting all our hope in.

Let’s define our years with hope. The hope of life to come. The hope of something so much better than what’s right in front of us that we can’t even wrap our minds around it. The hope that strengthens us day by day.

God, I come to You weary, worn, and waiting. This time of year often reminds me of what I wish were different about my life. Show me how to still be hopeful about what has not happened yet. At the same time, help me find gratitude for where I am today. Teach me to define my year not by what I don’t have but by what You have given me: Jesus. In the meantime, help me to love it here. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Meghan Ryan Asbury
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Meme: Hope is Jesus