WHERE IS MY HOPE?

Currently my place on the Road to Eternity is NOT very comfortable.  At times, I am struggling---but clinging to the hope which comes with faith deepened with life's experiences.  How easy it was to proclaim my faith when everything was rosy, but life is not always a picnic and the thorns come with the roses.  What do you do when life is hard---difficult to understand---and you feel as if you are choking on the chaff.   Do you still proclaim, "God is good."  In the midst of the unthinkable are your eyes still on The Father or are you wildly looking for some respite from the struggle?

Why does God allow us to go through the difficult times?  Why does He allow us to struggle---even when we feel as if we have placed Him in the center of our life?  Do you not think Beth Moore has not asked herself, "WHY, GOD?"  A perfect Biblical example is Job---a righteous man who was physically, mentally, and emotionally attacked by the enemy.  One of my favorite books in the Bible, I love that it gives us an example of when bad things happen to good people.  Job was declared righteous by Satan himself, and still Job was tested --severely tested.  AND it is poignant that Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible.

Can we still cling to our faith---declare God good when we are going under for the third time--sucking in life altering tragedy, sickness, loss, pain, and grief.  There are events which seem to have no purpose, no reason, and we are left reeling with the question, "WHY?"  Do we accept things as they come---are we able to keep our eyes on The Father--or are we slowly sinking with the weight of the unthinkable dragging us down?

These times---more than the good times--are the strengtheners of our faith.  They teach us God is not just good---but God is love---and He loves us in the midst of the fallen world and unspeakable grief and sorrow.  He is not surprised by our anger, knows our anxiety, and is the one beacon of hope in the dark days of our world.  YES---I do proclaim Him good, in the midst of crying out---"OH, GOD!" I know His love--His comfort--and His deep abiding faithful presence.  Then greater than any other time---I see--I know---Who God is and am able to Thank Him through the tears, the anger, and the questions-still knowing  God is Good!

" 'Though He slay me,

I will hope in Him.' "

Job 13:15

One of my favorite verses.