Week 5: Hope in God's Eternal Plan
Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen how God answers our anxious thoughts, draws us near in our loneliness, is sovereign over all things, and sees us in our suffering. We hope you have been encouraged and drawn ever closer to Him through these things! We’re ending our series in HOPE- Hope for His Eternal Plan that began before the earth was even created and continues when we’re with Him in the new heavens and earth.
Write out a list of ways you find hope in God and share it with some girls from your Community Group or other friend circles. How can you use the things that God has taught you to encourage others around you?
Scripture to
Meditate
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ”
Listen: Is He Worthy?
by Andrew Peterson
“The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son”
Words of Wisdom by Shauna Niequist
from her book Present Over Perfect
“Present is living with your feet firmly grounded in reality, pale and uncertain as it may seem. Present is choosing to believe that your own life is worth investing deeply in, instead of waiting for some rare miracle or fairytale. Present means we understand that the here and now is sacred, sacramental, and threaded through with divinity even in its plainness. Especially in its plainness.”
Listen: Dead Things to Life
by Ben Cantelon
Read: When the news makes you feel like America's sinking and Jesus is fast asleep
by Lisa-Jo Baker
“I stood in front of the mirror and made myself remember the story.
Jesus isn’t asleep because He doesn’t care.
He’s asleep because He isn’t afraid.”