Have you lost your hope?

My daughter got accepted at a big company as an analyst ( the same company who gave a a bursary for her final year) and it is her first official job .It is also her second time away from home ( 1st time was when at universtity) and she had to adjust to a new lifestyle and to people in her outer circle.Her workhours are from 8 am to 5 pm and it was affecting her back so much that she thought of leaving this job.

When I spoke to her and reassured her that we are praying for her healing,she asked me that we should rather be praying for her hope to be restored !This piece of our conversation got stuck in my spirit and after meditating on this I found this article about hope.

Become My Jar of Hope

Hope is something Someone (Jesus Christ) inside of us.

“And all who have this hope in him purify themselves even as he is pure.”

1 John 3:30

We receive this hope inside of us and became jars of hope,through the grace of God.

“…place your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

1 Peter 1:13

During the remaining days of June I found a sudden interest in jars.I found a practical pin on Pinterest and decided to do something with the empty jars in my cupboard: a spice rack.

It’s amazing how Holy Spirit loves to draw me into something practical before revealing to me the biblical principle! Afterwards I was drawn into searching scripture about what jars were used for in biblical times, what they were made of and it’s prophetic meaning .

Paul refers the believers as jars of clay holding the treasure of the gospel of Christ inside of them and thereby draws a parallel with fragility.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us… “

2 Corinthians 4:7

Timothy also refers to a vessel (jar) as one of the objects in a house and that some of them are for honor.

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.”

2 Timothy 2:20

Ordinary jars were used to be testimonies of miracles:

• The story of the poor widow and Elijah

 “I have directed a widow there to supply you with food. So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 

1 Kings 17 :9-10

• The wedding at Cana

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 

John 2 : 6-7

Ordinary jars were used to spread the gospel and provide living water to a city

• The Samaritan woman (John 4)

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”

John 4 :7

An ordinary jar was called for worship

“a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.“

Matthew 26:7

Scripture proves that God can use ordinary clay pots( jars)(vessels) to produce and to create miracles .

I spoke about jars as a vessel through which God chooses to work miracles in a previous post .Just like He called Moses to deliver the message of freedom to the pharoah and an ordinary sherperd boy to be a king, God is still looking for such ordinary vessels to be used for His purpose and in His kingdom.

Important facts about jars

1. Jars are containers that are used for daily purposes
2. In some cultures and households, they are key items because of their versatility
3. Jars can be refilled
4. They also become ways of storage in our homes
5. Jars are fragile and need to be handled with care.
6. Sometimes jars are used to preserve food and can be fresh for a longer period.
7. Jars must be properly cleaned before reusing or refilling.
8. Jars can be carried

So, we are jars! Then what do we contain? What are we carrying inside of us? I, therefore, came to the conclusion that we can only release what is inside of us. There are numerous people, workplaces, circumstances, businesses, etc., and even cities that need hope. Oh, and don’t forget the body of Christ! In our own midst, I see how many have lost hope, just carry on as usual, and lost their will to fight. I know that there are other causes to blame for the situation of the church, but losing hope is one of them.

When I started this year’s season of prayer journaling hope was the first biblical virtue the Holy Spirit had put on the table and now I experience that I’m back on the topic. Maybe I did not lock onto it and took a firm grip or maybe another deposit is necessary. During this week I’m writing about hope, praying for hope to be restored, reaching out to those in need of hope, meditating, and being taught about hope.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51 :12