Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Broken Reality

Life is tough; we face problems in relationships, careers, families, finances, and every other situation involved in living on this broken planet. God calls us to have hope and joy despite such challenges, even while we grieve and suffer and hurt. I am particularly challenged in the practicalities of having hope and believing that God can make the broken whole while at the same time not let it cut me right now. 

Maybe you relate. Perhaps your marriage is broken and your spouse has filed for divorce. Do you fight it or do you protect your future and what is rightfully yours? When do you simply accept a new reality and move forward? It could be that you have a life-threatening illness. Do you continue praying for healing when the treatment is failing or prepare your family for your death? How does hope work with the reality of life’s brokenness? How do we continue to trust God and show deep faith when reality suggests otherwise?

Risky Love

When we give our hearts away to someone else, we lose control over what happens. We risk hurt and loss because we never know how it will turn out. I’m sure all of us have loved and lost at some point; dumped by a guy, turned on by a friend, or left behind through death.  The pain of loss can be great at times, and the more we love the deeper the grief. To protect ourselves from situations that may lead to hurt, we may isolate our hearts, not allowing ourselves to connect on a deep level unless we feel safe and certain. But what do we miss by allowing our fears to drive us?

My friend Jenn is losing her struggle with breast cancer. For the past year she has done all humanly possible to fight the disease and has asked God to do a miracle. For reasons that only God knows, He hasn’t given a miracle and her battle is almost over. Although she will experience the complete healing for which we prayed, it will be as she enters the presence of Jesus and not here.

In the midst of her valiant fight, God sent John.