Rejoice in Hope

[Lonnell Johnson]

The times in which we are living can be oppressive and troubling. As the Scriptures reveal, “perilous times” or “times difficult to deal with” shall come. Indeed, these dark and difficult days are here. As we confront the darkness and overwhelming despair, we must position ourselves to move in the opposite spirit or go in the opposite direction. To counter the toxic effects of the deadly element of despair, we must take a double dose of our antidote which is hope, defined as the expectation of a future good. Again as we go to the Word of God, we find out that God is our hope.Psalm 42 verses 5 and 11 offer this marvelous reminder as to what to do when we encounter despair and we are “feeling low”:Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me?Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.

Indeed, God is the center of the hope of our lives, as revealed in 1 Peter 1:20-21:It is true that He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.>

Once again the Psalmist reiterates the source of hope for the worldPsalm 65:5By fearful and glorious things [that terrify the wicked but make the godly sing praises] do You answer us in righteousness (rightness and justice), O God of our salvation, You Who are the confidence and hope of all the ends of the earth and of those far off on the seas;

Psalm 71:5For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence. >

Psalm 119:116Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live; and let me not be put to shame in my hope! >.

Psalm 130:5-6I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope.I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, I say, more than watchmen for the morning.

Hope counteracts thoughts of despondency, when we recognize that hope is a joyful and confident expectation, so defined in the Amplified Bible in a number of different verses. Though we are confronted with challenges on every hand, even in the face of death itself, we still have hope:2 Corinthians 1:9-10Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the [very] sentence of death, but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God Who raises the dead.[For it is He] Who rescued and saved us from such a perilous death, and He will still rescue and save us; in and on Him we have set our hope (our joyful and confident expectation) that He will again deliver us [from danger and destruction and draw us to Himself],

In the midst of difficult situations, we reflect upon the goodness of God who has been faithful in past instances, and the Word of God assures us of His steadfast love, as we rejoice in hope, so expressed in this poem:Rejoice in Hope>

Rejoice in our confident hope.Be patient in trouble,and keep on praying.Romans 12:12 (NLT)>

And we now truly know God is able to doExceedingly and abundantly above allThat our finite minds can ask or could even think.He uplifts and strengthens us each time that we fall.Our paths lead to disaster, to the very brink.Despite delays and setbacks, His Word is still true:God is faithful to His promise; He will come through.When life begins to unravel, we may ask whyThe fulfillment of His will seems to be delayed.All those who call on Him, He will never deny.We are assured He will reward all who have obeyed.Our faithful God is not a man that He should lie.Through every trial, we are covered by the Blood,We rejoice in hope, knowing that the Lord is good.Despite overwhelming circumstances that could easily lead to despair, we learn to “Trust His Heart” as this song so beautifully relates:

[Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath]

Frank and Jane, thanks so much for writing. Weeping with those who weep is very helpful. I try to be there for Sheila and Katie's older siblings. Their pain is private but sometimes they share it and I know they feel better afterwards. I believe God will make it up to Sheila, only He can. I led Katie into tongues when she was 12. I knew her fiance was ill. I knew a lot of things I didn't share with the family but they have since told me it wouldn't have mattered, Katie would have stayed with him. You bet I am telling everyone everything now, whether they want to hear it or not - sort of knee-jerk but if it can save a life, then I have tried.

It's comforting to write and to cry. Cathartic. We sure don't live for this life.

Thanks Steve for your well wishes. We don't sorrow as others do who have no hope but we do sorrow.

And thanks all of you for being there, for praying and for understanding. with love, Karen

[Steve Burch]

Thank you Lonnell, this is such a huge topic. I think that when I was younger "hope" was just the Return. Over time I learned more about living each day with believing expectation for big and little blessings.

Karen, my heart goes out to your sister-in-law. One is never prepared for that tragedy, and when my mother passed away I know I was better off knowing about the Return than if I had no hope.

What's challenging is to get the peace of God into one's heart at a time when the heart is torn apart and very unpeaceful. As tough may seem, we need to go to God and appropriate His peace into our lives. Sometimes when I am not peaceful it is hard for me to read, so I will listen to teachings. Some that have helped me are here.

I will pray for her.

[frank manasseri]

Dear Karen,

What a most difficult time it must be for you all, but especially your sister. I can not image what it must be like and my prayers and thoughts are with you and her.

My inspired admonition is for you both is to promise yourselves to keep on taking life just one step at a time, allowing our God continue to comfort you with all comfort as only He knows how.

As His people, many times are frustrated in times like these because the stark realization of how helpless and how lacking we are to have any words to utter in offering any sense or comfort through the grief of tragedies. We many times so want to help but lack the proper expression to do so. I believe this is why we are instructed to “weep with those who weep.” This expression of concern bypasses the intellect and goes directly into the heart of those who are hurting, and like a gentle healing balm eventually produces God’s intended results.

We know there is a time for everything, and it is easy or us to experience the good times. However, it is during those trying and devastating times we all must rely on the love of the Father to comfort us and carry us through the grieving period, not matter how long it may last.

Recently I have been reading Paradise Lost, by John Milton and wept as I read how much God loved Adam and Eve. Even after committing their sin, He took pity on them, as He saw both standing their naked (X 209-228). Then His Son proceeds to clothe them as described by the following words by Milton. “Nor he their outward only with the skins of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, arraying covered from his Father’s sight.” (X220-224).

What a vivid expression of His unrestricted caring in that He not only sees the outward but the inward hidden things we all struggle with. Needless to say I was praising Him in my office that night. Once again I remembered how great God’s love is for His Creation. A love which is so pure, so unconditional, so absolutely forgiving and healing, that nothing will ever be able to separated us from the love of Christ.

Jane and I send our love and will continue to keep youall in our prayers.

[Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath]

Thank you Dick, that helps. The Jewish custom is called "sitting shiva" when you sit with those who are mourning.

Holidays are hard. We lost Katie but Sheila lost Katie and her first grandson. Thanks so much for praying for her/us. Katie was murdered by her fiance two years ago. He's now in prison. We are praying for him to get born again. He's been on suicide watch for awhile.

I had no idea you lost your brother to suicide in res. So, so sorry. :(

I have friends going through this now if you can share anything else I can do to bless them.

[dick michaud]

Lonnell, thank you for sharing that. Karen, what you shared broke my heart. I can't imagine what losing a child is like but I suspect the best thing you could do for your sister in law is not words but actions. Just be there for her, if you are near her. Words sometimes just don't do it, at least for me. In my last year inresidence John Lynn told my my brother had committed suicide. What helped me the most was a corps brother and his wife stayed with me all night and were just very loving and caring towards me. Anyway, that's just me. Actions speak so much louder than words. My heart goes out to you and your sister in law.

[Jerry and Margie McSherry]

Thankyou,Lonnell....

[Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath]

Thank you, Lonnell - this blessed me. I would like a definition of hope that is new.

How do I tell my sister-in-law about hope when she has buried her 24 year old pregnant daughter? What can I tell her to get her through today when the grief is raw and God seems like He's a million miles away from her? She knows and believes in the hope as we know it. Please share your thoughts.