Wordy Wednesday: Hope

We are on the road again, in Canada.  But I wanted to share something, even if it's just a quick word.

I took this one as we were coming into Fernie,  British Columbia.

In the last week, I've noticed a theme: HOPE.  With suicide being a hot topic, and then our sermon Sunday being about healing.  I've just been thinking about how much of our thoughts and actions are directly related to whether or not we have hope.  When you can find a glimmer of hope, it can carry you through the toughest of times, but when the circumstances swirling around you feel like too much, it's easy to feel like giving up.  But don't!  There is always hope, and it isn't determined by our situation.

Our hope is found in Christ. This world can seem daunting, at times.  When you are feeling discouraged, stop what you are doing, sit down, pray that God would help you feel at peace.  Find passages of scripture that are comforting to you. Listen to some good music.  Fill your brain with truth.

I googled, "hope in the bible", and found this site, it has 20 passages about hope.  And here is a great song about hope!

This was my favorite passage from the website I mentioned above:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Another passage I love, that carried me through the weeks after my miscarriage, is:

Philippians 4:4-7New American Standard Bible (NASB)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is [a]near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all[b]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If you are dealing with negative thoughts, desperation, or hopelessness, you aren't alone.  God is always ready to listen and he cares.  And beyond that, you have options, any one of you can email or call me and I am ready to listen and pray with you.  Maybe you have family or friends that are close by, don't feel like you are burdening people, ask for help. It doesn't mean you're weak, it means you recognize a problem, and you are unwilling to let it consume you.

Much love to all of you!