The Upper Room 21 February 2024 Devotional Message
The Upper Room 21 February 2024 Devotional, Wednesday Message by Golda Dilema (Cavite, Philippines)
TOPIC: Offering Hope
TODAY’S READING
Luke 7:11-17
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12 (NIV)
In Luke 7, Jesus saw the widow’s grief as the body of her only son was being carried away. Jesus understood her deep sorrow and comforted her. But nobody was prepared for what Jesus did next. He did the impossible — he raised her son from the dead. Everyone was surprised and amazed. But Jesus did not perform this miracle just to impress the people. The mother felt hopeless, and Jesus gave her hope.
We all experience loss, be it the death of a loved one, a broken heart, or an unfulfilled dream. Whatever we are going through, God is aware of our situation. Do not lose heart, for God is with us. In time, God will wipe away our tears, open other doors for us, and bring new joy to our lives. Just as Jesus comforted the widow and brought her new joy and hope, he will comfort us and offer us hope too.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for knowing our joys and our sorrows. Comfort us and give us courage, helping us to stay strong and to have hope in you. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
With God, I can always have hope.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those who feel hopeless
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.