Hope in The Lord

A good friend (and recent cancer survivor) and I recently had a discussion about the importance of hope in our lives. We agreed that the hope of heaven is what keeps us going with life's struggles here on Earth. Sarah Young puts it so clearly in today's devotional reading: "This hope (of heaven) keeps you spiritually alive during dark times of adversity; it brightens your path and heightens your awareness of My (God's) Presence."

I previously shared the story of my father, a non-church-goer, on what we thought was his last hours on this earth. My mother and I asked the hospital chaplain to try to speak with him even though he had been seemingly unconscious all night. The first thing the chaplain did was ask him how he was feeling. My dad's response was, "I'm doing pretty well in spite of what everyone has been saying all night!" The next question from the chaplain was about his faith in God. My father's response was, "My only hope is in the Lord!" That simple statement gave my family a peace that could only come from those words, as my father lived for several more months. When it was his time to leave this earth, our family was able to let him go and rest in the Peace of our Lord.

For me, that's what today's devotional and scriptures are telling us so that we "may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." The lyrics in the beautiful hymn, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" are blessed reminders of God's Love - and the HOPE that He gives to us!