Hope When Your World Turns Upside Down

Where is your hope when your world turns upside down? 24 years ago today our eyes were glued to the television. Unimaginable horror filled our hearts as the twin towers New York City crumbled. Then the Pentagon and more were attacked. Our headlines are filled with the harsh realities of our world that hit us broadside and bring us to our knees. Yesterday a man known for challenging the anger against free speech was killed. The violence around us is increasing but God is still in control.

People often question God’s goodness when tragedy strikes. The Bible doesn’t say life will be easy and carefree. The fact is we live in a broken world and He does allow bad circumstances to happen. But God’s word assures us that He is always good and a loving Father who will never leave us alone in our time of desparation.

I have learned through the various “storms” of my life that God is in control.  When an anchor is working it cannot be seen. God is always at work and my trust in Him keeps me from crashing or mentally and spiritually drifting away. Christ goes before the Father on my behalf  and has given me peace, strength and discernment to deal with the situation. One of my favorite Bible stories is when Jesus calmed the sea and it is retold in three of the four gospels .

 

Mark 4:37–41    And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

These professional fishermen had survived many stotms before yet they were scared to death because of the suddeness and verocity of this storm. They didn’t understand that Jesus was the Master of the sea. They cried, “Jesus don’t you care?” Have you thought that too?

 

Dr Charles Ryrie stated, “God reveals Himself in those storms. Unmerited tragedy helps us see God, which is unmerited grace.” Being able to evaluate things through the eyes of faith to see what is truly important builds character.

 

Romans 5:2–5     Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 

In Genesis 16 God was called by a new Name, “El Roi”. The God who sees, who hears and intervenes. Sometimes our hearts are broken and we just can’t understand what God is doing. He asks that we hold on tight to truth and trust Him.  My hope is in the Living God, Creator and Sustainer because nothing else will last.