Strengthen Your FaithSample

Rivers of Living Water

Desperation is a terrible thing. Less than a year ago, I stayed at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach; a grand old hotel recently restored to its former glory. However, the rich history of this hotel is blighted by a notable death. Adolph Coors, the founder of the Coors Brewing Company, is said to have been so frustrated by prohibition and a flood in Colorado that greatly impacted his brewery, that in desperation he climbed out of a window on the hotel’s sixth floor and jumped to his death. It was June 1929.

During the Great Depression in cities like Chicago and New York, there were prominent business leaders who, in the face of losing their fortune, were completely devoid of any hope and like Adolph, plunged to their death. When people are without God, they are often without hope. 

This week, while watching the news recently, I was reminded of the difficulty many now face and how desperate life can become – most notably, for people who have no foundation for their hope. We should all be thankful for the assistance and effort the government can provide at this time but thank God you DO have hope that anchors your soul, even amidst uncertainty. This hope is secure and steadfast and will steady you through even the fiercest of storms (Hebrews 6:19).

The Bible puts it this way in Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV), 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, 

But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

The second part of this verse offers a great deal of hope. Not IF, but WHEN the desire comes, or your opportunity arrives and the promises of God become your portion, it is like a tree of life.

Psalm 1:1-3 is a powerful Psalm that compares a righteous man to a tree of life. Verse 3 says of him,

“He shall be like a tree 

Planted by the rivers of water, 

That brings forth its fruit in its season, 

Whose leaf also shall not wither; 

And whatever he does shall prosper.”

In this season, my counsel is to stay planted by the river of God’s goodness and grace. Do not allow desperation and hopelessness to overwhelm you by solely relying on what you see and hear of this world. Rather, be desperate for the presence of God. Be desperate for more of His word. Put your roots firmly down in faith-filled prayer. Commit to honouring God with your finances and in all aspects of your life. I hope you can connect online to your church family each weekend to gather together, worship together and listen to hope-filled messages together. I pray every message preached will literally be like living water to you and your soul.

We are all going to come through this. I am believing for God to bring you into a fruitful season ahead – a season that testifies of His faithfulness. We are in this together. Let me encourage you one more time to stay in faith. God is our source. And while clearly, we are entering a very difficult season for all the nations of the earth, I pray for God’s protection on His people.

Stay in faith, the BEST is yet to come.