Hope for the Hurting!
Life is complex and complicated; evil flourishes, and trouble comes swiftly. The problems of today rarely resolve, but rather, they multiply, muddying the waters even further.
Thousands of mega problems crowd our daily newsfeed: what is the solution for the starvation crisis in Venezuela? What to do with the refugees fleeing war-torn countries? How to stop horrific sex trafficking, the drug epidemic, or the threat of worldwide terrorism? Is there an answer for abortion, corruption, or abuse; political disunity, bullying, or flagrant rebellion of authority in our nation? And what to do about vicious dictators of nations who misuse their power, bringing tremendous suffering on their own countrymen? Which battles to fight? Do we have some responsibility to fight for the plight of the weak and helpless, or is it all just too much? Compassion demands some sort of action, and yet… what to do?? … The endless list of twisted and tangled gargantuan issues leaves one reeling!
Sifting through all of these impossibly massive “macro level” problems, while coping at the same time with “micro level” problems – the individuals we each know who are languishing in their own personal agonies – battles with cancer, grief of familial suicide, loss, pain, disease, heartache and despair. How to walk alongside the many who are facing such overwhelming challenges?
And what about the more “minor” struggles – even for those not facing persecution, or poverty, death or disease, what to do with the heartache of errant children or loss of a job? Stress from bad relationships, or pain from the past? Disappointed hopes, dashed dreams or searching for significance?
The fact is, our entire world is groaning under the weight and curse of Sin, and there are no “simple solutions” that will automatically fix the consequences of it.
Overwhelm: to defeat completely; bury or drown beneath a huge mass.
So, is that it? Are there no answers to be found? Or is there some hope to escape the immense fallout from the depravity of sin and its devastating consequences?
Thankfully, yes!
Satan’s strategy is to leave us feeling overwhelmed, powerless and alone, but God’s solution has already been set into motion: the victory won by Jesus Christ when he sacrificed his life on the cross for All the sins of All of humanity for All time…and then rose again, victorious over death. Jesus conquered for us what we could not win for ourselves: Victory over death, and over the pull of sin on our lives. (I Corinthians 15:55-57)
Because God loves people so much, He made a way out from the bondage of sin and the hopelessness that every human being faces – Don’t believe the lie that all roads lead to God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
We all like sheep have gone astray, we have turned – every one- to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
So for the person who puts their trust in the finished work of Jesus, there is a precious hope, and a peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7, Isaiah 26:3) More so, we are no longer bound by sin, and sin’s curse, but can live abundant and joy filled lives, despite the pain that surrounds us, knowing that God is working all things together for good for them who love Him and are called according to His purposes. (John 10:10, Romans 8:28, Galatians 5:22-23)
Our hope lies in a future place as we await Christ’s return, sharing the truth of this Good news with others while there is still time, and using every opportunity to show the love of Jesus to a dark and hurting world. (II Timothy 4:6-8, John 9:4)
If you like me, have put your faith in the shed blood of Jesus for your sins, but still find yourself struggling with the heartache of the consequences of sin (which we won’t fully escape until Heaven), I pray you find wonderful encouragement from this poem I published in my book, Still She Speaks:
What do you think when you see the plight
Of our fellow humans who suffer the blight
Of this earth and her troubles? Of pain and distress
Of disease and poverty, anguish and death?
As they wander and ponder the meaning of life,
Observe all the scandal, partake of the strife,
They can glimpse of the beauty that lies all around
But have no understanding, no footing, no ground
They persist in the cycle, but long to be free.
What must they think of you and of me,
When they see that true joy can exist in this place,
Despite all the trials and chaos and waste?
Are we fragrant? Inviting? Attractive? Or no?
Do we carry deep sorrow, and reek of the woe
That they long to escape? I must ask this dear friend:
Does your life reflect hope for a better end?
Do we bask in God’s goodness despite earthly pain?
Trust that our Savior has a perfect plan?
Keep our eyes trained on heaven where eternity dwells?
Are we offering hope while the world offers hell?
This world’s pains are hard, prolonged and deep,
But for those without Christ, it’s the best they will see.
Are we sharing our faith while there is still time?
Or getting bogged down in the muck and the grime?
Are we resting in Him when the storm swirls around?
Clinging to Him when our enemies hound?
Running to Him when lonely and scared?
Praying and soaking our mind in His word?
Storing His scriptures away in our hearts,
When the enemy comes with his fiery darts?
Do we thank Him –yes, thank Him for allowing us pain
That would tether us to Him again and again?
This is difficult – no- an Impossible task –
Except we have Jesus to whom we can ask
To carry our burden and fix our eyes,
So our load becomes his ~ he’s our fortress and prize!
Rejoice in the gifts that his love has bought!
Oh friend – this is big – has your heart been caught?
We have The Answer, the Hope and the Key~
Are we sharing with prisoners that they can be free?
Bondage and heartache should not be the plight
For the child of Jesus who is offered delight –
Yes – delight that our troubles though hard and so deep,
Are temporary afflictions – they will not keep!
Our hope lies in a future place
Where pain does not live, where sorrows cease.
Where tests and tears do not abound,
Where heartache and death cannot be found.
Where His will is done and perfection reigns,
Where right does rule, and joy remains!
This place does exist and it’s free to the one
Who would come to the cross and believe in the Son
Who has paid all the debt we owe for our sin –
Impossible, yes – but not for Him!
He’s building a mansion – working details out –
And soon He will come back with a shout!
And take us home to be with Him there –
Can you picture it friend? Are you fixing your stare
Toward the place we’ll reside forevermore?
No more death, or mourning, or crying or pain!
Where glory goes on and on and on.
Rejoice in this truth! And share it with men
Who need to hear it again and again!
So I ask once more time: What does your life say?
Are you trusting in Jesus, or throwing it away?
Let’s get our eyes off our troubles, and our knees on the floor –
Seek Jesus – we’ll find Him…His grace ~ and much more!
