In the Midst

“Though the rains come and the winds blow, hope stands tall in the midst of the storm.”
Loren Thornburg

There is hope in new beginnings. As we celebrate the start of 2009 we find hope in a new year. New beginnings bring a freshness to them. It is an opportunity for more of what we long for, something better, something greater. Yet, I have found that often that these things I long for, the better, the greater come at a price. They don’t come without some obstacles. There will be rains and the winds will blow but your hope can remain even in the midst of the storm. The storms may catch you off guard, throw you off track, knock you down, or bring some detours from what you had planned. But, don’t lose hope. Even in the storms hope remains. And with hope you can stand tall, get back back up, and back on track. It is through these storms that our longings are made better and even greater if we are willing to keep hoping. Here in front of you is an opportunity to step and keep stepping into the hope. So, as you think back on 2008 and look forward to 2009 keep hoping, even in the midst of the storms.

“And God in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation…There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.”
1 Peter 1:5-6 NLT

God doesn’t work the way we thought He would or should. Often I try to convince Him of my ways only to find that over time His ways are in fact better and greater than what I even hoped. We are promised a priceless inheritance but we are also promised there will be trials along the way. These trials are a necessary part of the joy that comes in our salvation. Necessary means important, required, inevitable, essential, and true. It is the opposite of optional. However, when I am in the midst of trials and storms in my life I forget the purpose they are achieving. It is here that I lose hope feeling far from where I long to be. But in fact they are a part of the process; and not just a part but essential for the joy. Thus, for the hope that lies ahead it is necessary for us to have storms and trials. Yet, we can stand tall with hope in the midst of them because there is wonderful joy ahead.