“Hope In Times Of Hopelessness!”

“Hope In Times Of Hopelessness!”(Is.66:10-14).
Once upon a time someone looked at the ruins of Jerusalem and lamented,“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!…She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave”(Lam.1:1). Meanwhile those who were forced to exile sat by the rivers of Babylon and wept as they remembered Zion. There their tormentors asked them to sing songs of joy. They wondered how they could sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land. How could they forget Jerusalem their highest joy!(Ps.137:1ff).
These two scenarios are familiar to us who are either braving it in troubled zones or are in exile. The ruins of towns and villages in war torn zones are causes for lamentations. And those who are in exile cannot bear the taunts of their tormentors!
But the story is not yet ended, because there is hope!
It is said that hunger that has hope cannot kill a person. Hope gives assurance that no matter how achored we are, we are going to have a smooth sail once the storm is over. And that we are going to arrive our destination safe and sound.
Hope is the acknowledgement of present predicaments, yet fully convince that all will be well. It is true that sometimes nothing we planned turns out right, but on the overall,“hope does not disappoint those who trust in the Lord, for his promises are sure.”
The same words of hope given to Jerusalem in their time of distress is the same that God is giving us today. Whatever God’s chosen ones suffered was a “just punishment” for their didobedience to God. May be it is possibly the same with us. “They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations”(Is.66:3-4).
Despite that, God still promises hope.“I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream…”(Is.66:10-14). For Jerusalem this flourishing moment was fulfilled with the Messiah’s coming. The joy is now ours for the Messiah has become our own too. We are being nursed and satisfied at her comforting breasts. We can drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.
“Through the love of God all will be well!”
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ make us drink deeply in your overflowing abundance. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.