Despair to Hopefulness

Last night as I sat in bed, I felt sad, scared, confused, worried. nervous, anxious......Watching the coverage on Boston and how awful and unfathomable it is that a person/persons could even think of doing such a thing to innocent people like that, let alone carry out the act, hurt my heart so badly. Seeing posts about the abortion doctor in court right now and the horrific things that took place. Seeing people post that they were leaving people's pages because of them speaking out for the unborn. I had to make myself stop reading the article with the accounts of the procedures. It almost hurt to breathe.

Then, receiving that dreaded late night family phone call (that usually is never a good thing) and was no different this time. I was overcome by all of these emotions. Fearful of raising our children in a world gone so far astray and wondering what they will have to see and go through, heartache for the families hurt by the tragedy, scared of what my own family might have to face in the weeks and months ahead.

Life is full of unknowns, but one thing we do know is this world is temporary. There is a better place that awaits us.

And then I read this article by the lovely Sally Clarkson. It's like her words always speak right to me.
http://www.itakejoy.com/moving-from-despair-to-hopefulness/.

"Try as we may, we cannot make control this world or subdue all that is evil.  And yet, as believers we must come to God and His word for our answers. The world around us is longing for a word of hope, a reason to keep going, a comfort to their shattered dreams and overwhelming sense of grief."


HOPE. The very words we had put on the shirts for my dear brother's benefit dinner nearly two summers ago.

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! Psalm 31: 24
....What if we are called today, to be strong–to make the faith choice to let our hearts take courage?" 
Faith, courage...


"It is easy as parents to fear the world our children have been born into. But what if, instead, we prepared our children to be warriors for His kingdom?"

Wow. What a good reminder. Something we strive for everyday, but sometimes the fear and worry can overcome us, and we need to focus on the bigger picture!

"He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Rev. 21: 7"

It is reassuring to know that with God we can overcome all of these earthly things. Keeping our focus, keeping our faith, keeping our courage....HOPE.