Verse of the Day - Psalm 33:22

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. ~ Psalm 33:22 (NLT)

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A young couple in our church recently suffered a miscarriage. Their first child, they were full of hope -- cute baby clothes had already started arriving at the house in great anticipation. But this baby was simply not to be, and the grief poured over them when the doctor gave them the news. Many friends and family have hugged and loved on them, to share in their grief and help them get through this tough time. But I am so blessed to hear both of these young people talk about their faith in God, their hope in Him, despite this terrible loss of a child. I'm sure they would say, without a doubt, that they don't know how they would or could handle this situation if it weren't for the love of God to comfort them, and their faith and hope in His will for their lives.

I can't help but think of the friends and families of those lost recently to mass shootings. Most recently, 13 killed at a civic center in Binghamton,New York, those trying to fulfill the American dream by learning English and taking citizenship classes. Or the four police officers killed after a "routine" traffic stop in Oakland, CA. So many heartaches in the world. Where do people go for hope when disaster and tragedy strike?

Some go to alcohol and drugs, or become workaholics to try to kill the pain, to try to forget. But these can't even be called band-aids or painkillers -- they're toxic fumes that will create their own destruction. But God . . . His love is like the sweet scent of citrus blossoms in Springtime. When we allow Him to invade our being, He gives us spiritual healing and help and hope that can't be found anywhere else -- not anywhere.

If you're going through the fire right now, I urge you to seek after God, who has unfailing love for you. Make the choice to believe in His goodness and trust in His decision-making. Rely on what He allows in your life, and take every circumstance -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- as an opportunity to grow in your understanding of Him, to become more like Jesus, to become a person who walks in God's love and reflects that love to the world.

Hope is where Jesus is. I pray you can find hope in Him today.

Love,
Joelene