"Be strong and take heart, all of you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24
If you have turned on any type of media lately, you have definitely seen the devastation in our lands over the past year. From earthquakes, tsunami warnings, tornado outbreaks, to tornado fatalities the devastation goes on and on. As I awoke Monday morning, I found the news of the day was yet another tornado in the Midwest. The pictures told a tale of complete devastation and the loss of life was unbelievable. I am sure that your initial reaction was much like my own -- sorrow and sadness.
Yet my next reaction was of prayer but maybe not for what you think. You see, I began to pray that the Lord show Himself to the world before our time here on earth comes to an end. I see the people on the television who seem to be lost in sorrow and devastation, and I pray for them. I pray for their hearts. I pray for their health. I pray Psalm 31:24 into their lives.
I love Job 11:18 -- "You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety." If anyone understands complete sorrow and sadness that comes with a life devastated, then it would be Job. Yet Job had hope in the Savior of the world. Job had hope in his God.
There are numerous verses in the Bible that speak of hope. Below are some of my favorites.
-- Psalm 33:20 "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."
-- Psalm 33:23 "May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you."
-- Psalm 62:5 "Yes, my soul finds rest in God; my hope comes from him."
-- Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength...."
Have you ever experienced sorrow and sadness? Have you ever been in the pit and felt your life was in complete devastation? Have you ever held onto your hope in the Lord and found your way into His grace and mercy and have a testimony to share?
May the Lord be with the people of Joplin, Missouri as well as the areas affected across the South from the previous outbreak of tornadoes. May they find rest in His comforting arms.
Sheila, Your comments are very timely for the events in our world as well as for our family in particular. We have been facing a very trying time and as I dig into God's Word I find that He is our only hope. God certainly provides more hope than anything else we could rely on; anything else we put our hope in will surely fail us. God tells He will never leave us nor forsake us. My suggestion to anyone who finds themselves in despair is test God to find out that He is still there for each of His children.
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