ONE MORE THOUGHT

My wise and wonderful friend Linda who blogs HERE at Creekside Ministries posted this comment on yesterday's blog:

Hope is a hard thing to grasp onto when you've never experienced it, never seen it modeled, have never had it offered to you. 

Those of us who've survived hopeless seasons in our lives have only gotten a tiny taste of what much of the world's people live their whole lives.

God, have mercy.


Her comment brought to mind the brief skirmishes I have had with Hopelessness.  Those times when I knew there was not ONE THING I could do to stop the fast approaching collision with the freight train of loss.  The times I THOUGHT my prayers were stopping at the ceiling or God had taken a holiday.  Those times when all my efforts wrapped into one huge package would not put a dent in the reality of the circumstance.  The utter despair knowing the situation was out of my control and I had no choice but to accept the inevitable.  The total loss of hope for a change in reality.

The truth is---over the course of almost 66 years----I have fallen into the pit of hopelessness--BUT--it has never lasted and I have always recovered the sense of hope for a better tomorrow.  I have clung to the promise that He knows the plans He has for me---plans for a hope and a future.  My life is blessed beyond most of the world's wildest dream.

Yes, MANY of the world's people live in hopelessness and NEVER see the first glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow.  As she so well stated, 
Hope is a hard thing to grasp onto when you've never experienced it, never seen it modeled, have never had it offered to you. 
My pea brain cannot wrap around how one lives with never any hope and how you accept the horrible reality of eternal hopelessness.

As I listened to Dr. David Jeremiah's sermon this morning, and heard his reminder of the day of judgement, I cringed at the thought of standing before Jesus someday and trying to explain my actions.  What good explanation could there possibly be for turning a deaf ear, diverting my gaze, and ignoring the plight of the poor---when He specifically commands me to care for them? YES--He lavishes mercy upon me and forgives me---BUT will he divert his gaze, turn a deaf ear or ignore my sorry excuses on that day of judgement or will He tell me--I had such blessings planned for you, if ONLY!

GOD HAVE MERCY INDEED!  

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
Luke 3:11

2 comments

  1. It's a bit surprising to see something you've written appear in bright red on another's blog. I guess I'm just thankful that my seasons of broken hopelessness can encourage another.

    Thanks for spreading the word, Lulu ...

    Only by His grace alone ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always put words in bright red which are the most important, Linda. I thought your comment was profound! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me!

      Blessings!

      Delete

Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!