Pastor’s Corner: “The Knot of Hope”
Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV) – 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Have you been tempted to give up on hope when there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight? I’d encourage you to consider these wise words by Franklin Roosevelt, “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” I have been at the end of my rope a few times in life. Maybe you have too.
In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted to swim in ocean waters from Catalina Island to the California shore. It was a foggy day and the waters were choppy. Her mother was in a boat beside her, cheering her on to keep going despite her pain and exhaustion. Finally, Florence begged to be lifted out of the water. When the mist cleared after a few minutes, she saw that the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference later she said that all she could see in the moment was fog and upon reflection, she felt that if she could have seen the shore she would have made it.
We can become discouraged in the fog of this world and loose hope. We can become tired and weary trudging through the muck and mire of life and give in to depression and despair. We need to keep our eyes on the shore…….we need to keep our eye on heaven, our beautiful destination. Although we may not be able to see it, the Word gives us a beautiful picture: Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV) – Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. This is the promise and hope that can sustain us. It is the knot at the end of our rope!
Here are some of the truest, most beautiful words ever written: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” Psalm 42:5 (NIV). Some people think hope is an emotion. “I’m feeling hopeful,” they say, but true hope is a discipline, a determination to believe in God’s reality and power, even when the world seems to be crashing down around you. That is the genius and the power of hope in the Lord. It flies in the face of calamity, saying, “The world can do its worst to me. But still I will hope. Still I will know that this is the day the Lord has made, and He will take care of me.”
Psalm 31:24 (NIV) – Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. The key to surviving any challenge or crisis is hope in the Lord. Hope that Jesus loves you. Hope in heaven our home and destination. Hope that He is right now working out a solution for you. Hope that the future you place in His hands will be better than the present you hold in your own. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In His grace,
Pastor Hamilton