Hope in the midst of adversity is like rain in the middle of the summer heat. The gathering of the clouds and the change of wind indicate something good is going to happen. Rain is a gift from the Lord. It is His blessing upon the land, wildlife and man. It is an act of mercy that He sends because He loves us. It is a gift of grace that comes undeserved. Our hearts should overflow with gratitude when God blesses the earth with rain.
There is hope in every bleak circumstance. The follower of Jesus Christ is never hopeless. The struggle may last longer than we wish, but the presence of God with us means that hope is ever present. Noah lived with hope in the midst of the flood because of God’s promise that the world would start again. Daniel lived with hope in the midst of the lions because of his faith in God’s protection. David lived with hope facing Goliath because of his trust in the living God. Peter lived with hope in the prison cell as the people of God prayed for him.
Not even death can quench the hope of the Christian! Paul boldly declared, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14, NLT). The death and resurrection of Jesus fuels every circumstance with hope! The grief of the season is overshadowed with the promise of hope.
The ongoing saga of our nation has left many in despair. Statistics reveal that doctors prescribe about 250 million antidepressants a year, and the number is growing. Suicide rates are on the rise as people live with a sense of hopelessness. Faced with a pandemic, racial division, unemployment, ongoing riots, heated political rhetoric and day-to-day struggles, many become downhearted and pessimistic. What do we do? Stop looking around and start looking up! The Bible says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalms 42:5, ESV).
Be careful where you place your hope. The hope of the Christian is not based in the government, economy or military. Our hope is not rooted in new laws, rising political stars or the stock market. Our hope cannot be built on science or philosophy. Man is flawed and sinful. Our hope is never in man or man’s wisdom. Our hope is in God. We must turn to Him in humility and prayer and confess with the Psalmist, “May your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you” (Psalms 33:22).