How Do We Hope?
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I am surrounded.
. . . by despair.
. . . by unemployment.
. . . by sickness.
. . . by stress.
. . . by discord.
I am surrounded by difficulties these days it seems.
So many people I know are out of work that I’ve stopped counting.
I also can’t tell you how many people I know are trying, without success, to sell their homes.
At least two dear, faithful readers that I know of are dying. Literally dying.
I hear stories almost every day of something tragic going on in the lives of the people around me.
My heart breaks, aches, for the hurting that I know. There aren’t enough sidewalks to walk down nor enough hours in the day to pray for all the needs.
And then there are those near me who don’t know the saving grace of Jesus. Those who have never experienced true freedom, or peace.
My heart cries out for these who don’t even know the depth of their need.
And yet . . .
Juxtapose that with my own life, the life I live within these four walls.
A husband who loves me.
A home we can afford.
Children who are seeking after God.
A job.
Peace.
Blessing upon blessing seems to be heaped on my head, and I don’t understand why. Why, when those around me are hurting so much, does God choose this for me?
Why does my cup overflow?
Honestly? That doesn’t matter so much to me. I’m not complaining, really I’m not. I just wonder sometimes.
In a world of hurt, or even in a world of abundance, how do we hope? How, when the world seems to be spinning out of control faster and faster and faster and the needs seem insurmountable, do we make sense of it all?
We trust. We trust because there is nothing else to do. We trust because we’re commanded to trust. We trust because we don’t have the answers.
But God does.
He knows your despair, and He knows your joy. He knows your situation, even though nobody else does.
And He knows your greatest need. The world’s greatest need.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.
Peace.
. . . by despair.
. . . by unemployment.
. . . by sickness.
. . . by stress.
. . . by discord.
I am surrounded by difficulties these days it seems.
So many people I know are out of work that I’ve stopped counting.
I also can’t tell you how many people I know are trying, without success, to sell their homes.
At least two dear, faithful readers that I know of are dying. Literally dying.
I hear stories almost every day of something tragic going on in the lives of the people around me.
My heart breaks, aches, for the hurting that I know. There aren’t enough sidewalks to walk down nor enough hours in the day to pray for all the needs.
And then there are those near me who don’t know the saving grace of Jesus. Those who have never experienced true freedom, or peace.
My heart cries out for these who don’t even know the depth of their need.
And yet . . .
Juxtapose that with my own life, the life I live within these four walls.
A husband who loves me.
A home we can afford.
Children who are seeking after God.
A job.
Peace.
Blessing upon blessing seems to be heaped on my head, and I don’t understand why. Why, when those around me are hurting so much, does God choose this for me?
Why does my cup overflow?
Honestly? That doesn’t matter so much to me. I’m not complaining, really I’m not. I just wonder sometimes.
In a world of hurt, or even in a world of abundance, how do we hope? How, when the world seems to be spinning out of control faster and faster and faster and the needs seem insurmountable, do we make sense of it all?
We trust. We trust because there is nothing else to do. We trust because we’re commanded to trust. We trust because we don’t have the answers.
But God does.
He knows your despair, and He knows your joy. He knows your situation, even though nobody else does.
And He knows your greatest need. The world’s greatest need.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.
Peace.
