out of the ashes.
It’s really funny when God makes you reread an entire book to get one verse out of it. That was my experience with rereading Hosea. I had read it before, studied the beautiful love story in it, gone over the prophesies foretold in it, but I never remember reading this specific verse:
“O Israel, you are destroyed,
But your help is from Me.”
-Hosea 13:9
I feel so free after reading this. People always tell you not to worry, to put your chin up after something happens. They remind you that God is in control. That’s all great, it really is, and I appreciate the encouragement that has come into my life, but after encouragement comes, you almost feel guilty saying how you truly feel about the situation that you’re dealing with.
It’s ok to say that you feel destroyed. It’s fine to say that you’re hurt, down, depressed, feeling hopeless. Everyone will feel that way at some point or another. And here’s the best part. God knows exactly how you’re feeling, and He faithfully reminds us that He will help us through. He will scoop you out of the pit, dust you off, and tell you to keep going. He knows you feel like you’re unworthy of His help. He knows you feel like your world has caved in with no escape. He knows. But He also knows that you can get through it if you lift your eyes and call upon Him.
He’s waiting for you to admit that you are completely helpless without Him.
He’s waiting to save you.
He loves you.
