Tuesday, October 27, 2020

TRUE HOPE


In Lamentations 3:22-24, we read: "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him!’”

“How can you say 'God is good?' He takes away everything I love."

Aunt Janie sat on the edge of the bed, took Cing in her arms, let her cry. As the crying turned to hiccups, she handed her a tissue.

"I feel the same at times."

"You do?" Cing reared back, stared at her aunt. "But you're always smiling."

"Everyone goes through pain and suffering. It's not whether we have pain, it's how we deal with it." She propped the pillows so they could get comfortable.

"I don't understand. Why can't life be easy?”

“We wouldn't have a story to tell. It would be 'Once upon a time they lived. The end.”

“That's not a story. Nothing happened.” 
 
“You're right. You need action. And in our life story, things happen and we react. We have our ups and downs. Which story would you prefer. ‘She walked home.’ Or 'She tripped on a rock, fell down, ran home...” 

“I get it.” She looked into her aunt’s face. “But I’m still sad.” 

“As you should be. You loved Kitty. When you give your love, lose it, an empty place remains.

“I’ve make many mistakes, Cing. But because of the Lord's great mercy, I'm not consumed or destroyed. We are His children and the Lord is always faithful. So I hope in Him!"

"Even when you don't feel like it?"

"Especially when I don't feel like it. So I put my hope in the Lord."

"Thank you, Aunt Janie, for loving me." Aunt Janie hugged her. "I'll hope in the Lord, too."

Kingdom Thinking. What about you? Do you know the Lord's mercies are new every morning? He loves you with an everlasting love and promises never to leave nor forsake you. Won't you come to Him?