And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4b
If you’re alive today (and you’re honest), you’re struggling with something.
The struggle that upended Nancy’s life began when she gave birth to a tiny daughter, and then later a son, who both had a rare genetic disorder. Each only lived six months. What could possibly have brought hope to her life, in the face of such loss? Nancy says, “When you know how the story ends, you can face the most difficult parts of your story with hope and peace.”[1]
God’s book, the Bible, says, “…The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled” (Romans 15:4b). In her painful story, Nancy turned to those promises of God. The Bible tells that the stories of all followers of Jesus end in eternal hope and abundance. This assurance of eternal hope and abundance changes a person’s perspective on tragedy, on our fears and the wrongs that others do to us. It alleviates the need to shove others down to “get what’s ours.”
But before the end of our stories, God gives something for the here and now and that’s His peace. When Jesus was going back to His Father in heaven, He told his followers, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
For the person who has no guarantee that things end well–whether it’s in a career path, a relationship or an attempt to get an education and climb out of poverty, life is desperately serious, final and probably can’t be described as peaceful.
In your struggle today, you can be sure of a hopeful ending and peace to see you through.
[1] Guthrie, Nancy. “I Am the Resurrection and the Life.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 June 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j3c4lX8l7s.
