12 July, 2016

Where Is Your Hope?

Reading the Bible tonight before calling it a day I was reading in Acts when this verse caught my attention:
The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. Acts 27:20
After reading this verse, I just sat there for a few minutes and thought about how many times over the years I've had people say to me that "all hope was gone." The thing is, the reason that all hope is gone is because people have put their hope in the wrong things. They've put their hope in a job, a doctor, the lottery, a friend, the government… and we could go on and on. But the simple truth is, unless your hope is in Christ, you're going to eventually be disappointed and disillusioned and find yourself uttering those words… "all hope is gone."

It's is a simple reality that life at times brings circumstances and situations our way that can rattle us, discourage us and cause us to want to throw in the towel. Yes, people, no matter how well meaning will often fail you. Circumstances arise that leave us feeling despondent and helpless. But I submit to the reader that it is during those very times of trying, frustration and discouragement that we can come to truly understand the rock solid hope that is found only in Christ. He alone can give us the calm assurance and peace that prevails through the midst of our storms. Many people misunderstand what it means to be a follower of Christ and think that it means life is just a bowl of cherries and problem free. Jesus never said that. What he did say is that we'd never face a problem, a trial or storm alone. He said he would never leave us nor forsake us. So when we walk through our mess… he is there. A friend of mine preached a sermon more than 20 years ago at my church that I've never forgotten. In it he said, "no mess, no miracle!"  To see the miracles of Jesus, we must of necessity walk through situations where those miracles can be unleashed! 

Let me encourage you today, if you're feeling empty, helpless and hopeless today, ask yourself what you've been putting your hope in, and then transfer that hope into the blood stained hands of Christ Jesus!

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