With all that’s going on in our world right now, I had hoped to write a post with encouraging words about how God has this all in the palm of His hand and we’re going to get through it. Those words don’t mean much when you have to greet a son or daughter at the airport as their flag draped coffin is lowered from the plane. It doesn’t mean much when the winds of a hurricane reach 175 mph and destroy everything in its path. When we’re close to being in another war – when our lives are being controlled by a virus – when all hope seems to be turning sour – those words don’t carry much clout.

We all go through trials and it may seem that God is no where to be found. Has He deserted us? Is He punishing us for bad choices and behavior? Are we getting our comeuppance? Why does God allow these trials if He’s a righteous God? Why does He create weather that destroys and insurmountable events that crush our spirit? Well, God isn’t like that. If I were to receive what is coming to me, I would’ve been living on the street, dumpster diving, begging for a crust of bread. If I were to get what I deserved, I could count on no future – no hope – no salvation.

God is a God who forgives our sins, because He loves us. He is patient – kind – selfless – caring and more than tolerant of the sin that infests our world. He has the power to wipe out the entire human race, but instead His plan includes the greatest love story ever told. Many would think and say that there is no God and that if there was, He has forsaken us. Yet the truth is that His intention was that we live in paradise with Him and enjoy all the benefits of His kingdom. His love has no strings attached. We are unable to work our way to salvation. Even so, He laid out a plan for our redemption that relied on the greatest sacrifice ever.

His plans are always good and the results are always amazing. We may not see it when we’re struggling through the mess we’re living in, but it’s all part of a plan He drew up at the time of Creation. Through God, we have hope for a future. We have a promise that we know will never be broken. We have life eternal waiting for us. In the meantime, this simple message needs to be shared with others. We have an obligation to share this good news so that they will have hope even when it seems like there’s none.