Hope When There is No Hope!!!

Have you ever been in trouble?... No I am not talking about "stealing a cookie out of the cookie jar when Mom ain't looking" trouble.  I'm talking "I don't even know if there is a God anymore because of the things going on in my life" kind of trouble.

For us believers the majority of the time we get in this kind of trouble is when disaster strikes close to the heart.  It could be anything... death, divorce, accidents... etc the list can go on to whatever you think of.

Have you ever been in that kind of trouble... if not maybe you know someone.  I do!!!  About a year or so ago I had a friend who tried suicide.  The question is this... Where is hope when there seems to be none?

The answer of this question is so simple we either overlook it of use it to much to see the sincerity in it and truth.  We'll shrug it off because things just can't be that simple or think "we've heard this so many times before..."  Our answer is the essence of our Christian walk and faith... THE CROSS!!!

Now you are thinking... "okay what happened there?... Jesus died there okay... um.. Jakob how does this make any sense if we are trying to help someone NOT kill themselves cause disaster and death is not the answer.  Plus they don't really go together."

Alright yes I am talking about disaster and death that happened a long time ago yet holds so much relevance today that believing in it is the most important decision you will ever make.  The cross is where our hope lies.  Our God and King, Jesus Christ showed the hope, love and forgiveness that He has for us by taking the most painful death (see previous blog post for a brief description of Crucifixion) and then transforming that into life three days later by rising from the dead.

Jesus Christ was taken into the hands of his own people, the same people that once shouted "HOSANNA HOSANNA!!! Blessed is HE who comes in the name of the Lord!" to shouting less than a week later "CRUCIFY HIM CRUCIFY HIM!!!!"  The cross is where the Son of Man gave His life to show us unconditional love for us to have a relationship with Him and the Father.  The cross, where you and I can find the hope that we need.

When we think there is no hope, think again.  When we think that God can't possibly know what we are going through... think again because He went through it and knew He was going to have to go through it.  He suffered a more painful death that any of us will have to suffer.  We have so much evidence that what Christ did on the Cross and rising from the dead is true, what He did was real and we know it though people still refuse to see it.  What he went through is a whole lot worse that whatever you may be going though now.

"Why does He let me go through the pain and suffering then?"  Deuteronomy 29:29... "the secrets belong to the Lord" and He has a purpose for everything.  I know that you will receive rewards in Heaven for persevering.  Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I AM GOD!!!"  In our world today we are very much a here and now generation... we don't look to the future and think of the benefits then if we wait now.  We "need" everything now or we won't be happy.  But the Bible says plainly... "BE STILL"  It's hard and I know it cause I struggle too but the Bible also promises that everything works out in the end.  The Lord is the Author if your life and if He is writing it than you KNOW that everything will work out.

I have been through pain and suffering as well and I have made it out... mine may be worse or not as worse than what you are going through,  I suffered the loss of my grandmother, being the godliest woman I ever knew, 4 years ago on June 3rd.  I've lost friends and I've had troubled times... but I am one of the happiest people you will ever meet.  Why??? My hope is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and His mercy and grace He gave me at the Cross. He gave me the greatest Hope ever in the Cross!!!  My hope is found in Christ Alone and I dare not trust in nothing less!!!