Saturday 30 July

Source of Hope

Read Lamentations 3:19-41

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed  Lamentations 3:22

What good is faith when all seems lost?  I’ve asked that penetrating question in my life, and not long ago I received a letter from a mum who has asked it as well.

She told me that she and her husband set out in their marriage to seek God’s will for their lives and entrust their future to Him.  Then their second son was born with Down Syndrome.  Their initial response was “grief, shock and disbelief.”  Yet the same day he was born, God used Philippians 4:6-7 to put peace in their hearts and give them an undying love for their precious son.  It says: “Let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts.”

But their days in the desert were not over.  Nine years later, their fourth son was diagnosed with cancer.  Before he reached his third birthday, he was gone. Shock, pain and sadness again broke into their world.  And again, they found help from God and His Word.  “When the grief overwhelms us,” says his mum, “we turn to God’s Word and His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

When life’s troubles hit us like a tidal wave, we can remember that God’s compassions never fail.  He can gives us the hope we need.  Dave Branon.

My sheep I know, they are My own;

I leave them not in trials alone;

I will be with them to the end,

Their hope, their joy, their dearest Friend.  Anon

Feeling hopeless reminds us that we are helpless without God.

Prayer:

Ask God for His peace and guidance, at the conclusion of the service tomorrow, as people  provide their feedback from last week’s meeting.

Ask God to continue to bless Rex Findon as he teaches R.I., and gives driving lessons to many Sudanese.