What do you place your hope in? Hope is defined as a person or thing in which expectations are centered. What you place your hope in, defines how you live your life. The following examples are based upon numerous people and stories mixed together, the names are fictional.
Lisa based her worth on her intellect. She attended the best schools and received the highest grades and achievements she was labeled a genius. Despite her young age of 30, she landed her dream job and was on her way to a six figure income. One day while, at work, Lisa suffered a dizzy spell and passed out. Sadly, it was discovered she had a brain tumor and after the surgery she was never the same. Because of everything she suffered short term memory loss provided challenges in her everyday life, following a simple recipe was difficult. All of her years of hard work and study were gone. Her hopes and dreams had dissipated overnight and her life would never again be measured by her intelligence.
Michelle found peace and comfort from always being around her friends. She did not know how to be on her own, she needed people and constant contact. A tragedy left her far away from family and friends. Fear and loneliness knocked at her door in the middle of the night, and she had no one to talk too.
Fame and riches belonged to a young man. Money and power belonged to him. The stock markets crashed, and he lost it all. All of his friends and his wife left him; they disappeared almost as fast as his fortune.
I would like to share with you a real life story about my Grandma Katherine and where she placed her hope, her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grandma went home to be with the Lord 13 years ago and I still miss her. My heart is grateful we will be reunited in heaven again someday.
My Grandma was a young mom with two children when her husband left her for another woman. Pain, shame, poverty, broken hearts, and dreams were all my Grandfather left his family. Reeling from the shock, grief, and pain, Grandma didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself. Bravely she faced a society where divorce was not the norm, and she worked to provide food and shelter for her children. When I hear the stories of the impoverished living conditions that my Mom grew up in, I am thankful for God’s hand of protection upon them. My Grandfather was an alcoholic and it caused life long heartache.
Scars of sorrow could have embittered my Grandma’s heart but she chose joy. When I was child, both of my grandparents would be at family functions and Grandma was always kind to my Grandpa. As an adult I now look back in wonder at the strength God gave my Grandma. I do not understand from my own human perspective how my Grandma could have forgiven my Grandpa. But I do know, God was with her and He carried her and helped her to go on.
My Grandma did not have a lot of earthly treasures. She was generous beyond measure. Everyday my Grandmother would pray Psalm 91 for her family and love ones. Her hope was found in Jesus and she entrusted the care of her loved ones to Him.
Grandma was not without faults, and I am not trying to make her out to be a saint. Grandma was a poor miserable sinner just like me and you. But she put her faith, hope, and trust in the One who was perfect, Jesus. And now my Grandma has peace in the arms of Jesus.
“5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5: 1-5
In closing I would like to share, “In Christ Alone.”
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