The past week, my mind has been flooded with hopelessness, given the absolute destruction that Hurricane Helene has caused. As an empath and a Christian, this devastation has deeply affected me on both emotional and spiritual levels. I have spent countless hours looking at footage, scanning pictures, and listening to stories of those affected. Witnessing the devastation and the immense suffering of those in its path, I feel a profound sense of empathy for the lives uprooted, the families displaced, and the communities shattered. Because the reality is, it could have been me. When tragedies happen, I often feel guilty and wonder why God has allowed these things to happen to someone else, not me. Why am I spared? When these people have lost everything. If I’m not careful and don’t take these questions to God, I can spiral into a dark place.
Yet, in the middle of the storm and beyond, there were many beautiful stories of hope—stories of people finding safety with neighbors, communities coming together, and those who, despite losing so much, held on to a deeper sense of hope that went beyond their circumstances.
This kind of hope, the kind that withstands even the fiercest storms, is what Peter speaks about in 1 Peter 1:3-5:
Yet, in the middle of the storm and beyond, there were many beautiful stories of hope—stories of people finding safety with neighbors, communities coming together, and those who, despite losing so much, held on to a deeper sense of hope that went beyond their circumstances.
This kind of hope, the kind that withstands even the fiercest storms, is what Peter speaks about in 1 Peter 1:3-5:
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
– 1 Peter 1:3-5
| This passage is a reminder that through Jesus' resurrection, God has given us a fresh start and a living hope. It's not just any hope. It's one that leads to an inheritance in heaven that can never be taken away, tarnished, or fade, unlike everything in the temporal world. This resurrection is the bedrock of our faith. God's power is protecting us through our faith as we wait for the fullness of our salvation to be revealed. |
|
Hurricane Helene, like many storms, brought devastation. The storm, as powerful as it was, did not have the final say. In the same way, the trials and suffering we face in this life do not have the final word over our lives. Jesus does. He has given us a new birth into a hope that will never fade.
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, your future is secure in Christ. With every storm we face, let us be known for emulating the words in this sweet hymn:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak me strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all.
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, your future is secure in Christ. With every storm we face, let us be known for emulating the words in this sweet hymn:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak me strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all.
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