SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 11
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. [2 Kings 11:2-3]
As this part of the story unfolds, we will see that God is protecting and preparing Joash to be a deliverer for His people.
This is a recurring theme in the bible, a young child hidden away from a cruel leader, for the day when God will use that child to help His people.
We see it in the story of Moses [Exodus 2:1-3], and the greatest example of this is Jesus: So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” [Matthew 2:14-15]

There are two lessons from this.
One is that God always has an “ace in the hole”, an advantage that other people do not know about.
No matter how bleak things may look, God is up to something, He has a hidden plan – right under our nose –that will one day turn things around.
It may take years before we see it, but it is there – hidden.
Faith believes this, and the result is hope.
A second lesson is that I may be the one in hiding.
This season in my life may be my being protected in the temple (like Joash) prepared and protected in Egypt (like Moses and Jesus).
God has called and equipped me to be a surprise blessing to others.
When I make myself available to the Lord, and follow Him in grace and love, I can be that “good news” to others in darkness – like Joash, Moses, Jesus.

Be encouraged, God has something up His sleeve.
Be a blessing, God can use you to encourage others in their despair.

PRAYER:
Lord, right now I am feeling gloomy, but this gives me hope. Help me to cling to hope, and to share it with others!