Are You Hopeless or Hopeful?

            I discovered this beautiful petunia growing out of the asphalt in front of a restaurant in Waddington, NY.  It didn't worry about where it was growing.  It just bloomed for all it is worth and gives glory to God in the process.  We need to bloom with all that is in us in spite of our circumstances and God will bless us.

Lately I’ve been moping a lot. It’s been difficult to focus and get much of anything done. We are confined to the house most of the time due to this coronavirus and it’s pretty scary.

I think I’ve been a little depressed. I know I’m not supposed to worry but I really think I was worrying a lot about family, friends, shortages, the economy, the country, the world. The poor, the helpless, the little children, the elderly. And the list goes on.

Yesterday I put a name on my feelings and decided to tackle them head on. I will make To Do Lists and cross off stuff as I get it done. I will listen to upbeat music, especially good worship music. I will read the Bible more and pray more. I will watch movies with happy endings and limit how much I watch updates on the virus.

This mess is in God’s hands. He is so much stronger than this or anything Satan can dish out. And I do think Satan played a part in this virus. It’s tearing apart the country and the world. Satan is laughing and rejoicing at our problems and our terror.

We can fight back. We can go to God and acknowledge our powerlessness and ask for His help. God is in control and always has been. I don’t know why this pandemic is happening, but God knows, and I trust Him. We can always trust our Father.

I know that my Father loves me and you dearly. I know that He does all things to help us (in the long run) and not to hurt us. Jeremiah 29:11.

In life we go through many trials and this is one of them. We are being tested and tried to bring out the good in us. 

A diamond is found in the ground bound to lesser rock. That lesser rock must be cut away. A diamond in the rough is not pretty. It must be cut by a master cutter to show its facets and beauty. All of this cutting would have to be very painful to the diamond – if it had feelings. 

We are being cut and prodded to try to remove things that do not form our eternal souls in the image and likeness of God. If we cooperate, and it’s not easy, we will shine with the beauty that is God and give glory to Him in the process. We will enjoy God’s company in paradise as reward for our cooperation.

If we do not cooperate, we will still be cut and prodded but will end up distorted and our souls will not enjoy the company of our Father for eternity. That will not be a happy ending.

Right now, all extra activity is cut out of our lives. We must get back to basics and back to God. 2Chronicles 7:14 says “ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

God is calling us to return to Him. In Him there is HOPE.

God said “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 He’s not going to forsake us now. He’s just waiting for us to turn to Him and ask for His help.

Outside the ground is bare. The grass is dull green and brown. It looks lifeless. However, in my garden, there are shoots poking out of the ground with the promise of new life,

Somewhere there is hope in this crisis. There are stories of people helping people. Strangers helping strangers. 

There is a shortage of some medical supplies. I found a pattern to make face masks that maybe our hospital can use to protect our medical staff. I sew so I think I can do this. I called our local hospital but since today is Sunday, I must call back tomorrow and speak with Infection Control to see if they can use the masks. A friend told me her daughter in law is making the masks for her local hospital. Businesses are donating supplies to hospitals.  Schools are taking meals to kids who might go hungry otherwise.  There are certainly negative things that are happening but there are so many stories of people reaching out to help those in need.  

And that makes me very hopeful.

How about you??

   The ground may be brown and dull but when the        Son shines  on us, it makes us sparkle like the          sunshine on the water. 
                 He gives us HOPE and JOY.

I have never lived through a pandemic before and sometimes really don't know what to do.  Am I staying far enough away from other people?  Am I washing my hands and whatever I bring in my house enough?  Am I being careful enough?  Only God knows and only God can get us through.  I pray we all do enough to protect ourselves and our families and those who are vulnerable who cannot help themselves.  And leave the rest to God.  He really is in control and He will get us through this.

Blessings on all of you, dear friends.  

      I took this picture after an ice storm 
             in February, 2016.
     The sun shining on the ice covered trees 
      is quite beautiful despite the danger and                   devastation that an ice storm can cause.
   God makes all things beautiful in their time.
                  He will bring beauty 
       out of the ugliness of this pandemic.
               Just as He brought beauty
       out of the ugliness of His Son's crucifixion.