Hope Found

I have a confession to make. I’ve been eating Reese’s Peanut Butter cups and Oreo cookies. Everyday. For the last five days. I know, I know! Believe me, I know how bad they are for me! You see, I’m stressed. Stop rolling your eyes and lecturing me on the benefits of exercise, deep breathing, and meditation. Trust me, I know what’s good for me, but right now I’m indulging in stuff that I really should not eat. Especially on a daily basis! And now you’re going to give me a spiritual lecture on the benefits of prayer, Bible reading, and fasting? Guess what! I’m doing all three! But soon I may be too busy…

My husband has COVID-19. Perhaps it should be called COVID-2020 because it’s in our VISION all the time. TV, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram everyday. Every hour. Every minute. Ughh. It’s no joke. Definitely not made up. It’s here. In my house, 24/7 right now. So I’ve decided not to look at it on media any more. Yes, I’m praying too. Tons of healing prayers are going up! Plus, quarantine and living in an area in my home away from the TV room has afforded me plenty of time to read. Not only am I reading the Word, but I’m in the midst of an online Bible study that is more satisfying to my soul than any kind of Oreo cookie! Yes, I’m using all my tools. However, my spirit is still housed in a wall of earthly flesh that wars against every spiritual cell in my body. So sometimes I turn to Reeses for fleshly comfort. But trust me, deep down inside, my hope in this battle is in God alone.

In fact, before the pandemic started eight months ago, He gave me a wonderful Word in Scripture to hide close in my heart. In 2 Chronicles 20 the Lord tells King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” In my March journal I wrote this prayer, “Lord, whatever the future holds, help me to trust You to fight the battle no matter what it looks like.” It’s crazy how God prepares us so well! Today, I read the following verse, and it became my prayer. “

Remember the Word to Your servant,

Upon which You have caused me to hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction,

For Your Word has given me life. 

Psalm 119:49-50

So here we are. It’s the hour of affliction. His Word is my true comfort and only real hope. I’m thankful for healthcare workers, vitamins, and home remedies. I’m especially thankful for family and supportive friends. However, the only One who has fashioned my days and declares the end from the beginning is Jesus.(Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 46:10)  He understands sadness and is acquainted with grief.(Isaiah 53:3)  In addition, He understands suffering. “Although He was the son of God, He learned obedience through what He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)  He even sees every tear that slides down my cheek! David the Psalmist wrote,”You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.”(Psalm 56:8)

What a comfort to know that God is with us in our times of suffering! He never promised an easy, trouble-free life. In fact,  He told us that the way that leads to life is narrow and difficult and there are few who find it.  What He did promise was ETERNAL life! He promised us a place to live in eternity free of pain and sorrow, a place where our tears would be wiped away. Did you ever wonder about WHO would wipe away your tears? Imagine the loving hands of Jesus holding your face, His eyes filled with compassion and empathy looking into yours, and His gentle fingers wiping away the pain of a life lived here on earth! What a beautiful picture of intimacy!

No worries, I may get stressed, but I am not wavering in my faith these days. I’ve seen too much of God’s goodness in the past thirty years to doubt His healing power! Plus, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen! (Hebrews 11:1) So, I hope for healing and protection. I hope for many hearts to make a u-turn to Jesus in the midst of this pandemic. I hope for His church to be a light in darkness. Most of all, I hope for God to be glorified all across the world. 

As I dunk my double chocolate Oreo into my cup of ginger turmeric tea, I am thankful for this life despite the sufferings. Imprisoned, Paul said in Philippians, “To live is Christ; to die is gain.” He said that because if he lived, he could bear more fruit; if he died, the gift of heaven was his. In the midst of the stresses and pain of this life, may we take hold of the joy found in that truth. May we gain true 20/20 vision and see the tremendous worth of living a life bearing fruit for Jesus! Are your eyes open to see the hope found in Jesus in 2020?