“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill out hearts with His love.” — Romans 5:3-5
Today, I was privileged to hear life stories of a couple of people. Both had experienced trials. Both had experienced hopelessness. And both had recently given their life to Jesus Christ. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection changes everything. Everything! His life gives us hope that suffering and trials will end. It gives us perseverance to go through hard times. It gives us assurance that when we do wrong, we have a loving Father who brings us home again. It gives us the knowledge that our lives can be transformed when we say yes to him.
Desmond Tutu said of hope, that ‘hope is the ability to see that there is Light despite all of the darkness’. What a statement considering the world in which we live! Darkness may be all around us but our hope and light is Jesus Christ. He came into this world to bring light and life to all those around. His hope and the hope in Him changes everything. There is more, there is better, even through the storm and in the midst of the darkness. Soon we will encounter the single darkest day in human history — Good Friday. But oh death, where is your sting? Praise God, our hope lives!