Abundant Hope
Some things in life just don’t make sense. In fact, they make my heart hurt and, being totally honest, make me a bit angry at God. Especially at this time of year when the atmosphere, most everywhere, is joyous.
The sudden death of a young man after a case of pneumonia. Leaving a wife totally distraught, four children fatherless, and the many, many people that he impacted as a pastor, including me, grieving alongside them.
Young parents, our daughter and son-in-law, who have been told they have “unexplained infertility” after being able to successfully have a child nine years ago.
The grown child of our dear friends who, after months of a migraine that wouldn’t go away despite treatment, was told he has cancer and that the tumor in his head was not the primary site.
The temptation to ask “why” is so real. But then I remember that none of us are immune from life and the pain, sorrow, and grief that often come with it.
Then, I also remember that Emmanuel, God with us, is here.
Christmas and the birth of Christ is a constant reminder that God sent his son Jesus to be present with us. He came to provide HOPE!
Romans 15:12 & 13
“And again, Isaiah says,
‘The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.’
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Because of Jesus’ presence, we can have hope!
He is with us. He walks beside us in our pain, our grief, our anger, our sorrow, our questioning. All of it! He hears us when we cry out to him. He understands because God came as a baby, and grew into a man. He has firsthand experience with all of the emotions we face. He wept over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and Isaiah 53 tells us that He was “...acquainted with grief.”
Even though He walks with us and shares in our sufferings, he does ask us to do something. Trust in Him.
The Romans 15 passage above, tells us that as we trust in Him he will fill us with ALL joy and peace. Not a little bit. ALL joy and peace. The essence of that verse in the Greek is a superabundance of joy and peace. Wow!
I find myself needing that right now, how about you?
As you walk through hard things this season, or even face new and unexpected hardships in the coming year, be reminded that Emmanuel- God is with us. To bring us abundant hope.
