15 Nov Being Broken and Having Hope
I️ feel a little bit brittle today. A little bruised from the news, a lot raw from Veterans Day, and broken hearted for a loved one.
I️ find myself catching my breath, trying to keep all the pieces together while the spiderwebs cracks race through my composure.
You know the teacups so thin and so fine you can hold them up to the light and see through the hardness, knowing it’s a trick, because really you are afraid to clutch it tight, and really afraid to bump it against something hard(er).
Yep. That’s me today. So maybe for everyone else carefully holding the edges together today, for all you brittle and broken sinners crawling into the arms of a Shepherd, for you who walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
There. Is. Hope.
Hope Does Not Disappoint
And in these days we are living of fear, and worry {for myself and for others}, and fatigue, I picture the lilies, and the sparrows, and I cling tight to the promise that even if my earthly tent should fold, I am provided for … “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” {2 Corinthians 5:1}. And then this, in verse 6-7. “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Before I wrote this, I spent a sleepless night worrying and praying for a family member. But I am studying Romans and this, this is my great comfort.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint. Romans 5:1-5
And so, I am of good courage, I walk by faith and not by sight. I’m still tired, still a little bruised, still so very so sad for my family member, but I am at peace.
… and this faith produced in blindness sees me through the dark days and results in a hope that does not disappoint.
Be of good courage, friends.
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