Ponderings: hope

Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Where Is Our Hope?

We are living in times of unprecedented stress. Our families, society, and world are in a constant state of upheaval despite our best efforts to restore control and stability. Many of us feel betrayed by our government, abandoned by our loved ones, and fearful of all the circumstances we cannot control. The stress of it all is debilitating and the burdens have become unbearable. Why is all this happening? Has God finally turned his back on us? These questions are as old as time.

Most of us have felt abandoned by God at one time or another. We have tried—and failed—to control situations we were never meant to control. Even though we might be saved, many of us find it hard to fully surrender every aspect of our lives to God and to give him control of the heartbreaking circumstances in which we find ourselves. We have become slaves to sin, believing that “if it’s to be, it’s up to me.” How arrogant of us to think that we know better than the One who created us and sent his one and only Son to die on a cross for our sin! How might our pride and failure to surrender ourselves, problems, and loved ones keep God from accomplishing his will in our lives?

The apostle Paul wrote, “We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, CEB). As a Christ-follower, he knew that his hope could be found in Jesus Christ, the power of God, and the truth of God’s Word. He knew that God can turn our trials into testimonies so that others may come to know him. He goes on to write, “We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies. We who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies that are dying…So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:10-11, 16-18).

“It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, NIV). God only wants his best for us, yet we live as if we know better than God. True freedom comes from being fully surrendered to God.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:8-12, NIV).

Jesus is our ONLY hope! Will you trust him enough to surrender your life to Jesus, who died for your sins, and begin your life of victory through a personal relationship with him? He is waiting. He has promised never to leave or forsake you, but you must take the first step by inviting and placing your trust in Him.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

God’s Word on the Matter

“Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.”

Psalm 119:169-170 ESV

Lord, there is so much I don’t understand about life these days. So many questions in my mind and concerns in my heart. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. So many of us walk around dazed by all that is happening in our world, our families, the Church, and we can’t help but wonder what You are up to. What is Your purpose in the trials we face, the illnesses we suffer, and the adversities of those we are powerless to help except through prayer?

When I pour out my heart in prayer to You, I am comforted knowing you aren’t offended by my questions, nor those of any who call you Father. “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:19-20 ESV).

Keep us mindful as we pray, that we are not only to tell You what is on our hearts but even more importantly, pray according to Your Word, to find out what You have to say about the burdens we carry. You promised that we would have trouble in this world, but You also promised us that You have overcome the world (Luke 16:33), and that Your grace is sufficient for us for Your power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Lord, thank You for the power and comfort of Your Word. Thank You that when we don’t know the answers, You do. Make us men and women of prayer according to Your Word, that we might have hope and be prepared to offer that hope to the weary among us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Monday, September 4, 2023

Trust God No Matter What

This (2023) has been a year of unprecedented hardship and heartache for so many. Just as we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, global warming and gun violence blindsided us and took the top spot in the news. Mental health issues, addiction, chronic illness, financial hardship, unprecedented natural disasters, war, human trafficking, and immigration have all escalated as well, making ever more certain the reality that we live in a fallen world that is careening toward death and destruction. But there is hope!

Those of us who know God, know that we can TRUST GOD NO MATTER WHAT. We know that He remains in control, sovereign over all, and that this world is not all there is. We have the hope of heaven and the assurance in His Word that in heaven, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ESV). Praise God! What a lifeline He has given us in the midst of a stormy sea! His is the Unshakeable Kingdom. His is the peace that surpasses all understanding, promised to those whose mind is fixed on Him. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV). Although circumstances may be unbearable at times, we can have joy knowing that God the Father cares for us, that Jesus still saves, and that the Holy Spirit lives and moves within each of us who have called on the name of Jesus for salvation.

Many people, including me, believe that we are living in the last days, but no one truly knows how long “the last days” will last or when Christ will return for His Church. Even Jesus doesn’t know the day or hour of His return. In Matthew 24, Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only…Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (vs. 36, 44).

Are you ready? Have you received Jesus as Savior and surrendered your life to His Lordship? Are you reading His Word and living in the light of His promises? Are you actively engaged in worship and fellowship with a Bible-teaching church? If not, I pray you will invite Jesus into your life today by acknowledging your sin (we are all sinners, by the way), seeking His forgiveness purchased for you on the cross, and receiving His salvation. It will be the best decision you ever make. Then look for a Bible-believing church where you can be taught and built up in your newfound faith and enjoy the fellowship of likeminded believers. As one separated from my own family, I wouldn’t take one dime for my church family! I know that when things get tough they will be there to pray for and encourage me.

But what about those who don’t know God? How can we who believe reach the ones who have no hope? We need to live out our faith with authenticity, love others as Jesus did, pray for them without ceasing, give and serve to meet their needs, and be obedient to God’s Word, not only as it pertains to us but also as it pertains to them. God’s Word has much to say about the lost and how we are to treat our fellow humans. Sadly, we sometimes fail to exhibit the winsome character attributes of Christ by choosing what the world values rather than what Christ values and teaches, and in so doing lose the opportunity to reach and impact those who are lost. How tragic for them and shameful for us!

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace…You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:9-14,17-18, ESV).

As believers and Christ-followers let us resolve to TRUST GOD NO MATTER WHAT. May our faith in a good, gracious, loving Heavenly Father be the light that draws the lost to Jesus and brings hope to others in these troublesome times.

Friday, January 1, 2021

Life Doesn't Have to Be This Way -- Hope for the New Year

Happy New Year! I really mean that. There is not a reason under the sun why we must experience another year of misery as we did in 2020. Sure, many of us had the dickens kicked out of us by adversities and loss, sickness and suffering. We couldn't see coming everything that life dished out. But, the past is past and if we change our focus a little, I truly believe we can live above our circumstances and experience joy in 2021.

Here are a few of the things that 2020 taught me:

1. God is in control. Now it may not seem that way to you, but nothing takes him by surprise. Neither is God to blame for all the bad things that happen to us. God doesn't cause natural disasters, racial riots, political misconduct, or anything else that man brings on himself or his neighbor because of his own sinful nature and willful misconduct, but he does allow us to suffer the consequences of those choices.

The Bible is filled with scriptures that attest to the sovereignty of God (Proverbs 19:21), his presence with us (Joshua 1:9), his promises for protection (Isaiah 41:10), and the assurance that he works all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We know, and have seen, that God can take what man has intended for evil and use it for good (Genesis 50:20), increasing the faith of those who believe, saving those who are lost, and fostering generosity toward others. Think of 9/11 or recent natural disasters and the many ways communities came together to help one another rebuild lives and homes. Even in the midst of this pandemic, communities are working together to provide food for the hungry and meet the financial needs of those who have lost jobs.

2. God is faithful. If God is faithful, then why did my husband lose his job? Why did my loved one get sick and die? Why did ________ (you fill in the blank)? There isn't a single one of us that hasn't asked the "why?" question in recent months. I'll even go so far as to say that we don't deserve what happened to us in 2020. But does the adversity we experienced mean God is not faithful? All through history good people have had bad things happen to them. Look at Job. He was a man of great faith yet God allowed Satan (yes, the devil himself) to strip Job of everything -- his family, his great wealth and possessions, and even his health. God allowed all of it. Let that sink in. Jesus certainly didn't deserve to die a criminal's death on the cross because of our sin. In Matthew 26:53-54 (ESV), Jesus said:

53Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

Jesus was faithful to the promises of scripture that a Messiah, a Savior, would die on a cross and be raised from the dead to forgive our sins and assure us of an eternal home with him in heaven. I'm so glad that Jesus was faithful even when it cost him everything!

3. The difficulties we face should not define us; our faith should. The world is watching us to see how we handle the hard circumstances of life. People need to know that this ugly, broken, sick world is not all there is. We need to believe that too. Christians are not immune from life's troubles. In John 16:33 (ESV) Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Why, then, should we be surprised by anything that happens or by circumstances we cannot control? Jesus said, "you will have tribulation."

As people struggling to reclaim our faith in these difficult times, may we be reminded that Jesus has overcome the world and that one day, those of us who know him will join him in the holy city, the new Jerusalem, where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4, ESV). Let us be defined by our faith in Christ, not in the circumstances and heartbreaks we will experience in our time here on earth.

There are some reading this who may not know Jesus, or who may have wandered from the faith. If that is you, please know that you can never wander too far from the loving embrace and forgiveness of our great God. Jesus didn't just die for my sins. He died for yours, too, in order that you might have a personal relationship with him in the here and now. Eternal life with Jesus doesn't begin when we die, but rather when we ask for his forgiveness and invite him into our hearts to be our Lord and Savior.

My prayer for you in 2021 is that you will experience the joy of a personal relationship with Christ by receiving his free gift of salvation (you don't have to earn it, just ask for it) and by choosing to surrender your life to his leading. I learned a long time ago that life is so much better when lived God's way instead of my own. God's word will tell you everything you need to know to live joyfully and victoriously if you will make reading the Bible a part of each day. Living God's way and discovering his purpose and plan for your life is the greatest adventure you will have!

Sunday, December 27, 2020

A Prayer for More of God

Lord, as we close the book on all the sorrow and sadness of 2020 and anticipate with hope a better year ahead, give us more in 2021. Not more stuff. Not more happiness. Not more money or jobs or security. Give us more of you.

Without you we are nothing but hopeless, miserable creatures struggling to get through the challenges and heartaches of living in a fallen world.

With you all things -- even impossible things -- are possible. Because of you we have hope. You are Immanuel, God with us, not just during Advent and Christmas but throughout the year, in good times and in bad.

You are our Provider, Protector, Peace, Healer, Savior, Redeemer, Strong Tower, Deliverer...the God who works all things together for good for those who love you and are called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28).

You forgive us when we sin, weep with us when we are sorrowful, and rejoice with us when we are happy. You get us, because you created us.

The greatest thing we can pray for in the coming year is to know you more. In knowing you more we will love you more, and in loving you more we will love others more.

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to see others as you do and more importantly, to see ourselves as you do -- holy, pure, and beloved because the blood of Jesus has made us so.

Lord, give us more in 2021. Not less heartache, not less stress, not less illness, but more faith in the One who will never leave us or forsake us, no matter what may come. Lord, give us more of you.

In Jesus' name and for your glory, amen.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

New Normal -- Same God

I'm not one to cry easily, except at happy endings or when I am angry about something. However, I have had a couple of moments recently when tears just came out of nowhere -- no particular stress trigger or depression, just intense momentary sadness. As I prayed this morning for God to reveal why, I realized that like so many of you, I am GRIEVING. As blessed as I am -- as we all are -- we are each grieving, on some level, the loss of our lives and the reality that our "normal" is forever changed.

Some of us have lost jobs, loved ones, and the sense of identity that comes from being employed or in the company of those whose presence we can no longer enjoy due to social distancing and stay-at-home orders. ALL of us have lost the freedom to come and go and do as we please without fear of becoming infected or infecting others.

We have seen the best and worst of humanity during this crisis and learned hard, hard lessons. Many of us have risen to serve, some making the ultimate sacrifice to care for those who have been sickened by the virus. Some of us have sunk into despair because of loss and loneliness. All of us have been changed in some way.

Despite all the changes we have seen and the reality that life will never again look like it did on January 1, 2020, we can still enjoy LIFE and walk in FREEDOM because of what happened on Easter -- not this Easter, but on that first Easter when Christ, who IS our FREEDOM and our LIFE, forever conquered death through His Resurrection.

For those who know Christ:
He is our Life. -- John 1:4
He gives us Freedom. -- Galatians 5:1
He himself is our peace. -- Ephesians 2:14
He is our hope. -- Colossians 1:27

If you don't know Christ -- if you have not asked Him to save you from your sins and entered into a personal relationship with Him -- I pray this will be the day you ask Him to be your Savior and Lord and begin walking in the freedom, hope, and peace that can be yours as a child of God. The Bible tells us:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16-17, ESV).

Life will never be the same again, but "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

This world -- this broken, sickened, saddened, decaying world -- is not our home. Jesus himself says, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3, ESV).

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear away from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Revelation 21:3-5, ESV).

Praying for you,
Dee Dee

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Whatever Time I Have Left

"Whatever time I have left"...a heavy thought indeed. Not because I am dying -- though we are all dying -- but because there is still so much to be done, so much life to be lived and love to be shared. Time is passing much too quickly -- the month of January is nearly half gone and before you know it, we'll be sitting at the end of 2020 and wondering how it passed so quickly when we were determined to make the most of each day and do everything in our power to slow its progression.

Time is short. I'm getting older. So are you. Opportunities to do good are ours every day, but do we make the most of them? When I get to the end of my life, this year, this day -- will I regret the things I didn't do, the love I didn't express, and the time I didn't take just to stop and smell the roses? Or will I lay my head on the pillow satisfied that I did the best I could and lived with a sense of purpose and balance?

There are too many distractions competing for our time -- too many disturbances which burden our hearts, souls, and minds. Burdens which we are too feeble to carry. Disease, war, natural disasters, violence, animal and human suffering, moral depravity, political corruption...the list is endless. Is it any wonder that some days we want to throw in the towel, sink deep into our sofas, and mindlessly binge watch TV?

Wisdom has taught me that I can't fix what's wrong with this world. Only God can.

Wisdom has also taught me that attitude is everything and that each of us has the power to choose joy -- genuine joy -- in spite of what we see.

Yes, we have the responsibility to do what we can to effect positive change -- to vote, recycle and conserve resources, donate to organizations that fight injustice, contribute to the needs of others, and take care of our physical bodies the best we know how. But we also have the right to choose joy, the privilege to talk to the God of the universe about our concerns, and the promise of His grace, power, mercy, presence, and peace in the midst of everything we face.

Whatever time I have left, I want to live as one who has hope and to encourage those who are hopeless. I want to be a blessing and a vessel of God's love to others.

Life is too short to spend whatever time I have left worrying about things God is quite capable of handling. I know how the story ends, and it's a good ending!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” -- Revelation 21:3-4, ESV

Ponderings