ARE YOU LOSING HEART AND

GIVING UP YOUR HOPE?

We live in a world of great despair.  People everywhere are losing hope and see no “light at the end of the tunnel .”   We have seen recently great earthquakes and turmoil in other nations, and even more despair.  If you are feeling hopeless today because of your own circumstances, I bring you God’s hope.  That hope is in Jesus Christ, and He is the only answer we have in these troubling times, and the troubling times in your own life.

Is your body wracked with pain?  Have you lost a dear loved one, and your grief is beyond measure?  Again, I bring you hope.  Have you lost a job or your home?  Again I bring you hope.  Do you feel like there is a dark cloud hanging over you?  Even on the darkest, cloud filled day, the sun is shining behind those clouds. 

Do not be afraid to enter the cloud that is settling down on your life.  God is in it.  The other side is radiant with His glory.  “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings” I Peter 4:12.  When you seem the loneliest and most forsaken, God is nigh.  He is in the dark cloud.  Plunge into the blackness of its darkness without flinching’ under the shrouding curtain of His pavilion you will find God awaiting you.  (Streams in the Desert)

‘We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body”  2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NLT)

Paul, in this chapter, is reminding us that although we may think we are at the end of the rope, we are never at the end of our hope.  Just think of all the Apostle went through.  He went through beatings, shipwrecks, persecutions, imprisoned and much other suffering, but he could proclaim the hope he had in Jesus Christ.  Many of the epistles were written from prison.  The book of Philippians, for instance, was written from jail, and he continued admonish his readers to “rejoice.”

These perishable bodies of ours are subject to sin and suffering, but isn’t it wonderful that Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”  Whatever the suffering that you are going through right now, my friend, He is right there in the midst of your trial.  Praise the Lord, Christ has won the victory over death, and has given us eternal life.  All our suffering and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate His power and presence in us.

As you are facing great trials and pain, it is easy to focus on your pain rather than on your ultimate goal.  God wants you to focus on the reward for your faith and the joy that will last forever.  No matter what happens in your life or in mine, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.  What a wonderful day that will be?

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads.  They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” Isaiah 35:10 (NLT).

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.

Do not let your troubles and afflictions diminish your faith.  We all must realize that there is a purpose in our suffering.  First of all, our sufferings remind us of Christ’s suffering for us.  Secondly, our sufferings keep us from pride.  Thirdly, they will cause us to look beyond this present life and the hope that is awaiting us in heaven with Jesus.  Fourthly, our standing strong in great trials will inspire faith in others who see us walking through tough times, and standing strong in our own faith.  Fifthly, our trials will give God the opportunity to demonstrate His mighty power in our lives.

Just remember your ultimate hope when experiencing great suffering and pain in your body, or going through times of great dark times, when you feel like you are in that cloud that I mentioned before,  is knowing that this life is not all there is, but there is a greater life ahead in heaven, can help you arise above the pain and suffering of this world.  Just knowing that you will forever be with Jesus is worth all the trials and tribulations of this life.

So don’t lose heart, my dear friends, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.  Praise the Lord!

WHEN WE SEE CHRIST

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear; we’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair; but Christ will soon appear, to catch His bride away, all tears forever over, in God’s eternal day.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus; life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ; one glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, so bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark, with not a ray of light; we’re tossed and driven on, no human help in sight; but there is one in heav’n, who knows our deepest care, let Jesus solve your problem, just go to Him in pray’r.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus; life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ; one glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, so bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life’s day will soon be o’er, all storms forever past; we’ll cross the great divide to glory safe at last; we’ll share the joys of heav’n, a harp, a home, a crown; the tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus; life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ; one glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, so bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Esther Kerr Rusthoi