Hope for Hurting Hearts May 24, 2013
The last couple of weeks have been a time of extreme sadness in Southern Ontario Canada. We have experienced the ending of the lives of two godly men. I cannot imagine the pain that the wives are feeling, or the despair that must be in the hearts of those who knew and loved these two men.
Their lives came to an end much too early, and through very different circumstances. The first man’s life was taken by the hand of others, the second made the choice to take his own life. Both of these deaths produced the same result; families left behind to face the future without a husband, father, and son.
One of my cousins has dealt with suicide in his extended family several times and shared this with me.
“My heart and mind go to Romans 8:38-39; ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
I did not know either of these men, and I do not claim to understand the state of mind of all of those involved in the death of these to dear men. What I do know is that this verse gives hope to family and friends. When we have Christ as our Lord and Saviour, NOTHING is able to separate us from God. NOTHING we do or say will keep us from the love and presence of God.
Peter, the speaker of the verses in Romans, learned this biblical principle while he and the other disciples were in traveling with Jesus. John recorded these words of Jesus.
John 10:27-29 (HCSB)
My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Psalm 46:7 (NIV) gives us hope with this verses: "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Claim these promises as your own today.
If you are struggling today, if you are facing a future that is bleak, my prayer for you today is:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Remember:
· God is greater than all the struggles and grief that you are facing today.
· Nothing is able to separate you from the love of God.
· God is the God of Hope. He is with you
Find someone today that will listen to you, pray for you, and walk next to you during this time.
Their lives came to an end much too early, and through very different circumstances. The first man’s life was taken by the hand of others, the second made the choice to take his own life. Both of these deaths produced the same result; families left behind to face the future without a husband, father, and son.
One of my cousins has dealt with suicide in his extended family several times and shared this with me.
“My heart and mind go to Romans 8:38-39; ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
I did not know either of these men, and I do not claim to understand the state of mind of all of those involved in the death of these to dear men. What I do know is that this verse gives hope to family and friends. When we have Christ as our Lord and Saviour, NOTHING is able to separate us from God. NOTHING we do or say will keep us from the love and presence of God.
Peter, the speaker of the verses in Romans, learned this biblical principle while he and the other disciples were in traveling with Jesus. John recorded these words of Jesus.
John 10:27-29 (HCSB)
My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Psalm 46:7 (NIV) gives us hope with this verses: "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Claim these promises as your own today.
If you are struggling today, if you are facing a future that is bleak, my prayer for you today is:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Remember:
· God is greater than all the struggles and grief that you are facing today.
· Nothing is able to separate you from the love of God.
· God is the God of Hope. He is with you
Find someone today that will listen to you, pray for you, and walk next to you during this time.