Hope for What's to Come

August 31, 2023

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:12, “Dear

friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery

trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to

happen to you” (TLB).

In this

world, there will be times of trial and testing. It’s guaranteed! We can

expect trouble. Since sin entered the world, nothing works perfectly.

Everything on this planet is broken—the weather, the economy, your body,

and even your plans.

Isaiah 24 says, “The

land suffers for the sins of its people . . . [they] have twisted the

laws of God and broken his everlasting commands . . . The earth has

broken down in utter collapse.” (Isaiah 24:4-5, 19 TLB).

This Earth is not heaven. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer—”your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NIV). Heaven is a perfect place with no sorrow, sickness, sadness, or stress. One day we’ll get there, but we’re not there yet.

Here’s the hope: When you live in light of eternity, you don’t get

discouraged as easily by trouble. You don’t give up because you know

what is coming is the best gift you’ve ever been given. 

You will get

through whatever trial you’re facing right now. Soon enough you will

marvel at all that God did in the midst of your trouble as you look at

it from the other side.

This doesn’t mean you have to “pretend everything is fine” here on

Earth. It’s not fine. Death isn’t fine. Sickness, abuse, pain… all of

these aren’t fine. Take all of your hurt and pain to God. Be honest with

him, so that he can help you get through whatever you’re going through.

Life can be hard.  BUT, there is hope.

You need more than positive thinking to survive in this world. You need hope. Jesus offers you the hope of heaven. 

The Bible says, “Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy

ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These

trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire

tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than

mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it

will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus

Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT).

That’s why you can have hope no matter what’s going on in your life right now.