Tag Archives: trials

Hope to the Rescue

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Life will take you to some rough water.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

As the world swirls in pandemic turmoil,
My hope is in the Lord.

As the economy topples into depression,
My hope is in the Lord.

As I struggle with temptation,
My hope is in the Lord.

As I try to calm my anxious thoughts,
My hope is in the Lord.

As I worry for my family,
My hope is in the Lord.

As evil seems to have its way,
My hope is in the Lord.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

Write your own difficult trial on paper and follow it with—my hope is in the Lord. This little exercise really does help.

The Path of Glory

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I can see it just ahead

Advent is much more than looking forward to December 25th, the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. It is about realizing the hope of glory bestowed upon us in Jesus.

When the angel announced to Mary that she was highly favored and that the Lord is with you. It greatly troubled her because her life looked nothing like “highly favored.”

Going from “greatly troubled” to “highly favored” is what Advent is about. We do it by taking the words of Mary for our own:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

The promise of God for us is “Christ in me the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27). A hope that grows each day carrying us through sorrow, and troubles, and onto a glorious Christmas forever in Christ.

So we hesitantly count ourselves as highly favored and whisper with Mary—may it be as You have said…I think I am pregnant.

Joy in the Storm

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Snow storm in the Tumwater Canyon

Joy after a storm

Joy is a blessing of highest order.
Like rays of sunshine warming what ever it touches.
Yet it disappears with the slightest disturbance.
Why is something so good so fragile?
Joy runs at the first hint of trouble.
It is easily hidden by clouds of struggle,
And overwhelmed by the slightest ripple in life.
Joy dies whenever grief rolls in.
Is there a way to hold on to it through all life’s trials?
Once a year we celebrate the joy of Christmas, propping it up with presents.
But the bright packages prove futile against the doldrums of winter.
Maybe the problem is:
We seek the ephemeral joy instead of the eternal.
Settle for a hint of joy rather than push on to the fullness of joy.
Run after a gift instead of the giver.
Worship the created instead of the creator.

In Your presence is fullness of joy.  Psalm 16:11

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:10-11

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  John 15:9-11