Hope Is on the Horizon

“There is an authority that comes with anyone who chooses to trust God in the dark places. It is rare that He finds a son or daughter willing to wait for His perfect timing.” – Os Hillman

Noah sawed wooden boards and pounded nails for 120 years – all while preaching repentance and being mocked for doing so – until the first drops of rain began to fall. No wonder he is described in Genesis 6:9 as being “a just man, perfect in his generations.”

Joseph spent 13 years between the time he was sold into slavery by his brothers and the day he was made prime minister by Pharaoh. In the intervening years, he was falsely accused of sexual assault and imprisoned.

Moses waited patiently in the “back side” of the desert for 40 years before God granted him his life’s calling. During that time, God transformed this former pompous Egyptian prince into someone who was “very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).

David was chased by King Saul for anywhere from seven to 13 years, being forced to live in the wilderness and hide in caves. It wasn’t until he was 30 years old – approximately 15 years after he was anointed king by the prophet, Samuel – that he actually became king of Judah and reigned in Hebron. Seven years later, he was made king of a unified Israel based in Jerusalem. That’s a long time to wait!

We could find countless other examples throughout the Bible and human history of people of faith who trusted God in the “dark places”. One such man was William Wilberforce, the great British politician and abolitionist. Elected to Parliament in 1780, Wilberforce worked tirelessly to see slavery abolished throughout the British Empire. After 18 years of lobbying, he was finally successful in getting the Slave Trade Act of 1807 passed into law. Whereas it did not emancipate those already enslaved, it did outlaw new slave trading in British territories.

Unsatisfied, Wilberforce pushed forward tirelessly to the detriment of his health. His failing health forced him to resign from Parliament in 1826, but his life’s work was not in vain. Three days after learning that there were enough votes to pass the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, William Wilberforce was called home to heaven.

My friend, may these examples of godly but flawed men encourage you today to stay the course and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, even in the toughest of times. Hope is on the horizon!

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President