"Hope In A Broken World - Revisited"

“Hope in a Broken World” is our theme for the year. When deciding on a theme last year, we didn’t realize how desperately we would need this reminder in the upcoming year. The past few months, and especially the past few weeks, have brought some serious trials to our church family.  

But this is the very reason we need this kind of hope. In John 16:33, Jesus reminds us that “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (NLT). We need this reminder now more than ever.  

We may not understand the how or the why of things. Sometimes we are left with more questions than answers in the midst of a great loss. But the one thing we can be certain of is that God loves us and is holding us close in our grief. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). David recognized the comfort that only comes from God when he wrote this psalm. David understood that well, as he was no stranger to grief and loss. He had buried his own son and knew the pain of losing a child. In the midst of all the questions, we can always rest assured that God loves us and understands our sorrow. After all, God knows the pain of losing a child, too, with the weight of the sin of the world upon His shoulders (Rom. 5:8, 1 Pet. 2:24).  

 
Many in our family are hurting desperately. But at the same time, we are seeing other members of our church family step up to the plate and minister to those who are hurting. Oftentimes, these are people who personally know what it is like to hurt and grieve. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). One of the most beautiful ways God comforts us in our grief is when one of his children turns their painful experiences and mourning into a ministry to serve others and comfort others in their mourning. We see this in the meal trains that fill up fast. We see this in food baskets or hospital baskets. We see this in cards, calls, and visits. We see God’s compassion and comfort through them as they comfort others.

 
This year, we will continue to talk about how we can truly have “Hope in a Broken World.” Someday, the pain of this world will fade away. That’s one of God’s promises to us. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Until then, we will continue to rest in the hope that comes from Christ alone.