Hope Amidst Loss

Suffering in life is inescapable. Not one living soul will be able to avoid its deadly talons. We will all suffer from the terrible, gnawing pain of loss. Such grief comes in many forms; the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job or home, the loss of a dream, and worse yet, the loss of hope. Grief comes swiftly and powerfully, bringing agony and despair as it attempts to crush the soul and spirit. We have all experienced grievous loss. But what are we to do when we encounter such unwanted visitors? Hope.

Hope sounds outrageously preposterous and downright impossible during times of savage torment. How could one ever expect to have hope during such pain? Pain that feels like your heart is being pulled from your chest and battered to pieces? Agony that wails upon your spirit one disastrous wave after another. Grief that refuses to assuage, and only seems to increase its cruelty and torment. Who could have a chance to hope? And what is one to hope in—a better tomorrow, the passage of time? What?

Without Christ, there is no hope. He is the focus of one’s help; the Originator of Hope and the Sustainer of Hope. In order to hope, one must believe that God is Who He claims to be—that He is a Sovereign, loving God with the absolute best in store for one’s life.

When excruciating sorrow assails you, cling to the Hope of Jesus Christ. Do not expect to understand why this terrible agony is harassing you. Do not even expect Christ to reveal His mysterious reasons to you. He simply desires that you trust Him. Trust Him that He has not betrayed or forsaken you—He is still at your side. Trust that He still loves you and has a plan that no loss could thwart. Trust that He will grant the strength to endure. Do not assume you will have the strength to make it through days or weeks. He grants the strength and grace for only one day at a time. Trust Him that He is still on the Throne, reigning in righteousness and mercy. Many times we trust Him merely by a small, tattered and worn thread. It takes all we have left to believe in Christ and hope in Him. But your thread will not break. For in reality, He is bearing you up in the palm of His hands, out of which nothing can steal or remove you.

Hoping in Christ does NOT remove the burning pain. He does not remove the hurt or agony, nor bring back the things we lost. He still requires us to endure the torment. But He can grant the hope and strength one needs to survive the anguish—to believe that the hurt will not last forever and there is still reason to dream. Hope is impossible aside from Him. He is the only One that can keep His promises and provide for our needs both now and in eternity. Until God’s new heaven and earth are established, our lives will be intimately acquainted with suffering. But do not despair! You have a powerful ally at your side, Who prepares you for battle and fights at your side, slaying the enemies that threaten to destroy you!

I encourage you, that when your next hardship breaks into your life, look to Christ as your Hope. You do not have to pretend with Him. Express your grief and despair to Him. Tell Him how dreadfully painful it is and you fear you might break under the cruel weight of grief. When you suffer, He also suffers. He weeps when you weep. He also suffered terribly while on earth. He understands more than anyone and wants to comfort you. If you allow Him, the sting of affliction can be used for His ultimate glory. Truly, your night of sorrow can turn into the morning of gladness.

As always, look to Christ, and Be Strong!

~ Dana Thompson ~