Out of the darkness..

God has called us out of the darkness into His wonderful light. A conversation with a good friend brought this to mind today. He really did call us out of the darkness..yet the darkness in the world is very real. We are faced with it every  day..take a look at the news for even a few minutes and you will find darkness..unimaginable darkness.

He has called us out of this for a reason..He wants to shine His light into this world.. we were created for such a time as this. He knew when we were formed..before we were born that we would live in very dark days. He knew that our lives would truly matter. We are here..right now..for a reason.

Every single day we encounter hardship, disaster, grief, fear, discouragement, depression, cynicism, disillusionment..either in our lives or in the lives of those around us. There is more of this than I have seen in my lifetime. It is a very interesting time to be a believer..to walk boldly through the hallways of despair and defeat.. knowing that we have the living God walking beside us. His life in us is able to shine light at just the right moment.. to bring hope, healing, love, understanding, and compassion to those who are brokenhearted.

He wants to use us..His people.. to remind a very troubled world that He is the answer..He is the way..He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Hope

We can’t live without it..at least I can’t. Hope points us to a future that holds surprises and unexpected blessings. Hope renews our faith. We need to be hopeful people if we are going to make it through this life. God is the one who brings hope when we are desperate. He is the one who knows how much we need it and He provides.  I wonder how people who don’t look to Him do it. How can they have hope if they do not have their focus on God?

I suppose there are those who hope in themselves..in other people..in churches..in being good. None of these things work..at least not for long. We fail..people fail..churches fail..no one can be good all the time. Others hope in their finances..we know how that can turn out. Some hope in politics or isms..that never works either.

Our only hope is in the faithfulness of God. He is the same.. yesterday, today, and tomorrow and He will not forget us. Over and over He has proven Himself to me and I’m sure He is doing the same in your life. Keep your eyes on Him..keep in touch with Him and ask Him for what you need. He will do it!

“Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.”