Tag: hope

Christian

Seeing Storms In A New Light

Highlighting Hope

 It was a Monday evening, many years ago, and we got caught driving in a heavy downpour of rain. The rain was so heavy that we could barely see the road. As we made our way down the road, my daughter, who was two at the time, is in the backseat screaming, “Oh no Mom! It’s a “torvado”! It’s a “torvado”!” I understood her panic, because we had spent a lot of time at the beginning of that year hiding out in the bathroom from serval tornadoes that had hit the area we were living in in a very short period of time. It made quite the impression on her! Before the night was over, the heavy rain had turned into a full fledge thunderstorm.

I remember not sleeping well that night, and I was annoyed by the loud thunder and flashes of light that were constant. In my heart I was grumbling about this “storm” and how it inconvenienced me and prevented me from getting a good night’s sleep, but as I laid there wide awake, my thoughts and feelings about this storm began to quickly change. I realized that what I was complaining about was God’s way of providing for us. We all know how much we need rain, and even still, I know how quick I am to complain when the rain actually comes. (Even the lightning God uses for our benefit and I learned that it actually helps to provide the soil with nitrates, which is pretty cool!) As I laid there wide awake, I realized I looked at storms with the wrong perspective. I focused on how I felt inconvenienced and fearful of the possibility of something being struck by lightning or even losing power, but I realized that all of this happens for a reason, and ultimately it puts God’s glory on display.

“God is always working to produce a beautiful display of hope!”

As we face our storms in life, we often times we see the inconveniences, difficulties, pain, and reasons for fear, all the while missing the good that God is really doing.

That Monday night James 1:2-4, 12 took on a new meaning for me.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials (storms) of many kinds, because you Know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (vs. 2-4)

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (vs. 12)

As storms persist, God is at work. Nothing goes unused by our Heavenly Father, who loves us and is working all things for our good, but ultimately for His glory. In spite of any storm that may come our way, my prayer is that our hearts will dwell on God’s goodness, knowing He never leaves or forsakes us, and that our eyes would be unveiled to see the works of His hands. God always working to produce a beautiful display of hope!

lightning

Christian

It Certainly is a Very Merry Christmas

Highlighting Hope

I recall having a virus when I was young that hit me pretty suddenly and settled in my joints. The excruciating pain in my joints, especially my ankles, made it impossible for me to walk for several days. I was probably in the first or second grade at the time, and the onset of this virus happened while I was at school. Thankfully my mom worked at the school that I attended and she was able to get to me quickly, put me on a rolling chair, then rolled me down the hallway, and out to her car. It’s funny how more than 30 years later I can still remember the crippling pain and my need to be carried.

The holiday season is a time of remembering and gathering with loved ones. For the Christian, its’ main purpose is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. This is to be a jovial time of year, and for many, hidden beneath the fixed smile on your face, is a heart that bares grief, hurt, sadness, or pain. The reason for these emotions residing in many hearts is multifaceted, and the holiday season tends to stir up or agitate a grieving heart. I often times have gone to scripture in my pain in order to seek truth, and while I may still find the pain in my heart to be present, I begin to find rest because God’s word carries me, and it can carry you. In our pain, we see a loving Savior who remains present and carries us when we feel as if we can no longer stand, no longer walk.

Grieving friends, friends who feel much sorrow this night, I pray that I might encourage you with God’s word so that you can remember your position before God.

 In Isaiah 49: 15, 16 we read, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

You dear friend, are not forgotten by God. While the world seems to move forward, and your pain has you feeling stagnant, you have not been forgotten by our Heavenly Father. You are ever before Him and on the very hand that holds you, you have been engraved. To be permanently remembered and seen by God is a grand truth to behold. This is a love that is greater than our minds can ever comprehend.

Psalm 139 says, “even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Pain has a way of crippling us and making it feel impossible to move forward, but with God as our guide, holding us and guiding us, we have an immeasurable amount of hope to move forward because He is the one who is carrying us through.

This great hope, these great truths that we have to claim and live by this very night are only possible because,  ‘Unto you a child is born, a Savior, and He is Christ, our Lord! He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.’ (Luke 2:11, Isaiah 9:6) While pain may be present in your heart this Christmas, worship this Savior who was born for you, who continues to live for you, who intercedes for you, and who continues to carry you! Jesus certainly is the true hope of the world and because of that we can say with certainty that it is a very Merry Christmas.