There is no shortage of pain and tragedy in this world, that's for sure!
Disease wrecks lives and devastates families. Tragedy mars our planet and ruins communities. Relationship chaos threatens our peace and tranquility.
How do we not give up?
How do we keep going on?
For some, it's simply a matter of 'putting one foot in front of the other'.
That is, they think "What choice do I have? I keep plugging!"
But is that all there is?
Is there any way to actually overcome these things?
The Scriptures says "Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." (Proverbs 13:12)
So, when we're facing "Hope deferred", how do we overcome and get to "a longing fulfilled"?
I believe it is in the power of the Gospel--the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing better for overcoming the pain, tragedy, and chaos in this life. The fact that Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life but then laid down His life to make the payment for our sin...then followed it up by rising again...and now offers US new Life...is "the HOPE of the world"!
It is the One truth that can change everything!
Our health problems, our natural disasters, our relational wreckage...all can be forgiven and 'redeemed'--remade--because of our faith in Jesus Christ.
The HOPE that this faith relationship can give us enables us to not only 'survive' this stuff...but to overcome it!
We can experience some of that overcoming power in this life...as the Scriptures say, "We are hard pressed on every side, but we are not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
Ultimately, the key to overcoming is in 'perspective', Keeping the ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE in life is key to overcoming this stuff!
That passage goes on to say, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (vv. 16-17)
The key?
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (v. 18).
Keeping your eyes in the right place--NOT on your circumstances, but on your LORD, who enables you to overcome those circumstances--is key.
Today, I don't know what you face...but I do know that, if Jesus is the One giving your life direction...if HE is your hope, then your hope will enable you to overcome!
"Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:21-23)
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