September 12, 2018

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast” Hebrews 6:19. 

When the storms of life threaten to wrench everything from us that is solid and secure, hope keeps us solidly grounded. Even amidst the greatest gale force winds of adversity, hope prevents the underpinnings of our life from coming undone when we need it most.

There is no escaping the harsh reality that every person from every time and location has unqualified membership in the universal club of pain and suffering. To varying degrees and levels, all are ultimately affected. Tucked in our personal memories are instances and seasons of suffering; some especially intense. Open, raw pain and suffering might be our experience at the present moment. Past or present, intense or marginal, somewhere on the pain scale, each of us are all too acquainted with suffering.

A fresh flood of pain and suffering make the news every day. There is not a single day on planet earth truly free of tragedy and suffering. We live on a pain continuum. Somewhere in the world, every day and moment, masses of people are undergoing some form of trauma. Such is the condition of this present world. The more we see and know, the greater the potential for hopelessness to pervade. But we must not lose sight of real hope.

Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” 

The Bible is a hope-based collection of books and letters designed to train and encourage us with hope. It draws us to hope, and outlines the process that develops a hope lifestyle. It begins and ends with hope. And this “hope does not disappoint.” I cannot imagine, on resurrection day, suddenly having a new, limitless, immortal body and life, and saying, “this isn’t as good as I thought it would be.” I cannot imagine experiencing new life on a renewed earth - devoid of problems, pollution, and peril - and saying, “I thought it would be better than this”. Rather than disappointing, the realization of hope will far exceed expectation.

Hope calls to us to look up. To stay the course. To cultivate steady character. And to even more intensely focus on hope."

- from the upcoming book, "Hope for Uncertain Times"

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