Hope

Quite a few years ago, my Mother passed away. In the last few months before she died, my father started a little ritual with her every morning. Because of Alzheimer’s she could no longer read her Bible. She also lost her sight due to a stroke in the last year of her life.  Every morning he would quote the very familiar words of the 23rd Psalm. He would start a line and she would finish it.

“The Lord is my. . .” and she would say, "shepherd."

“He makes me lie down in. . .” and she would say, "green pastures."

“He leads me beside. . .” and she would say, "still waters."

It would go on that like that until they finished the psalm. They were using the King James Version because that is what she would have the best chance of remembering.

“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

As she laid in the hospital emergency room being poked over and over to try to draw a reading of her blood gases, no one knew that she was dying. As her heart was about to beat its last these were her words that she spoke in the presence of my Dad and sister. She said them mainly to herself because my dad and sister were outside the curtain in the ER. Very quietly she said, “The Lord is with me.” She walked with Jesus nearly her entire life. She came to Christ as a very, very young child and, in the end, He was there when she needed Him most.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”

When life comes at us faster that we can process it, and when things happen that we can’t even comprehend, we often have to make quick decisions. We can despair or we can hope. Make sure your relationship with Jesus is healthy and strong, and your hope will not fail. He will be walking beside you in your valleys of despair and hopelessness.

For the last several years a spiritual revival of faith in Jesus has been happening all over the country of Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of people have turned to Christ and put their hope and trust in Him. Now, as their world is challenged, the videos of worshipping Ukrainians expressing their confidence in the God that walks with them is amazing. As bombs fall and threats are made, the economy is unsure, jobs are on hold, and hours for some are spent in hiding, the sounds of singing and worshipping are coming from basements and shelters around the county.

I pray that your faith in Jesus Christ is strong today. Be encouraged. He is not dead or away on vacation. He knows all about you and is watching over you. Even in your pain, He will be there for you.