Monday, August 17, 2009

Music Monday/Hope in Difficult Times

Hope: "The confident, joyful expectation that God is working, both now and in the future, for MY GOOD, and for HIS GLORY!"

Every now and then I like to incorporate God's Word with some of my Music Monday posts. I really encourage you to read ALL THE WAY through this post and not just listen to the song!! I believe these words of God are very encouraging!

I mentioned before that the theme this year for our church's Sunday sermons is Hope. This past Sunday kicked off a series for Hope in Difficult Times! And WOW...was it a powerful message!!!!! I was in tears as most of the congregation was because of how powerful the message was and other events surrounding Sunday morning.

So this week's song (I may have done it before....sorry if I did) is "In Christ Alone." The version I am posting is by the Newsboys! In Christ Alone, my Hope is Found!



"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Whether the difficult times for you are related to an illness, divorce, financial debt, depression, special needs child, etc., we ALL are groaning inwardly as we wait for God to restore ALL of creation! God will restore all of creation and God will restore and redeem MY body!! "For in this hope, we were saved! But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8: 23-25

Remember that God is with YOU through your suffering! God is with you during your darkest moment. "The Holy Spirit helps us in our inabilities; the spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26-27

It is hard sometimes to realize that God is using our suffering for our good. I think it is especially hard for CF patients to continue through life without losing Hope. God has predestined (already decided) what struggles we will go through in life! All things work together according to His purpose! Each time I go in the hospital with pneumonia, it's part of God's plan! He is working inside of me! He is conforming me to the image of his Son, Jesus. If you truly love God, then you have Hope in Him. And you can rely on this hope during difficult times! It's all part of your journey on Earth. None of it is a surprise to God.

I think it's amazing to think of it this way. Over the last 5 years since my transplant, I always respond to getting sick or other post-transplant issues in a different way. Yes, sometimes I get frustrated. But I know that something good will come out of it, that God is working in me! And that gives me Hope; it gives me the strength I need to move and carry on. I know he is right there beside me helping me through!

In Romans 8:18, it says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Yes, it sad that we go through these struggles, and a lot of them are very difficult to endure; but none of our difficult times/struggles (even CF, cancer, etc.) compare to the Glory that God will reveal; to the redemption of our bodies; and to the restoration of all creation!

So my prayer for you this week is: "May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
(Romans 15:13)

Christ Jesus is our Hope!!!!!

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is pretty much my very favorite song...very powerful words!