Hope is not a denial of reality.

I've always found it just short of offensive when I hear a nonbeliever refer to Christians as not living in reality or, that we walk around with our head in the clouds. No..... we just have a different way of facing reality. It's called "HOPE" and I cannot imagine life without it.

Pastoral counselor Andrew D Lester writes, "Hope does not function as an opiate that causes people to deny reality. In fact, hope provides the courage to face whatever chaos and trauma life throws at us. Hope does not try to avoid the pain of finite existence nor is it naive about suffering."

There are many scriptures about hope and one that I love is found in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." "...endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." What beautiful words!

Last week, I heard a pastor on the radio make this statement, "Hope is not about denying reality. It is about coping with reality." AMEN!







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Finding shelter in God during times of trouble.

"Be good to me, God—and now! I've run to you for dear life. I'm hiding out under your wings until the hurricane blows over." Psalm 57:1 (The Message translation)

If you are a parent, you have probably experienced a time when your child was frightened enough to cling to you for comfort. Sometimes, words are not enough to calm a frightened child. They need to bury their little faces into our chest and feel our reassuring embrace until the upsetting situation passes.

We adults can find ourselves in such despair that, like children, we need to feel the arms of our Father holding us securely. We need to be reassured that everything will be all right.

The next time you find your heart breaking, your spirit wounded, your mind spinning or in such despair that you don't know what to do, remember David's words in Psalm 57. Close your eyes and picture yourself safely sheltered under God's wings. Feel his reassuring embrace as you bury your face into his chest. Take a long, slow, deep breath and breathe in the calming attitude that surrounds your Father. Let all fear and despair leave your body, mind and spirit as you breathe out.

Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." (NIV translation)

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge: his faithfulness wil be your shield and rampart."

Trust in the secure love of our Father to comfort and shelter you during times of trouble.



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