A door of hope
Over the last few weeks I have picked up a weariness in some people. This is due to many complex factors of the last four months which has affected everyone and everything.
I have written before about the metaphor of going through a valley in this difficult time, and I want to highlight another Biblical verse that has encouraged me.
In the Old Testament, God asked the prophet Hosea to do some dramatic things, such as marrying a promiscuous woman of ill-repute, to portray how Israel had rejected God and given themselves to other ‘gods’! Hosea was obedient to that and delivered messages of judgement, but in chapter two there was also some good news...
“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor (or trouble) a door of hope.”
Hosea mentions the ‘Valley of Achor’. This place is first mentioned in the Bible in the book of Joshua where a man called Achan disobeyed God and incurred God’s judgment. It was known as the valley of Achor or trouble - not a good place to be!
Hosea says that God was going to do something remarkable; He would reverse what happened in that valley. Instead of it being known as a place of trouble it was to become a doorway of hope!
God is in the business of turning around negative situations into places of hope. I have experienced this in my own life, and in the lives of many of my friends and those in our church.
If you are in a valley of trouble, there is a door of hope that God wants to open for you as you turn to Him...
Also, why not check out our live stream service every Sunday at 10:30am, simply go to www.hopebasingstoke.org/livestream
Stay safe
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader