There are days it’s easy to smile and laughter is spontaneous, and there are days when laughter and smiles seem far away.  Heartache, loss, death, and pain are a real part of this world.  They’re not strangers to any of us.  So, how do we get through those dark hours in our lives?  How do we move forward when we don’t have the strength to face a new day?  Where do we find the courage to hope?

This is an old story.  Suffering and pain are nothing new.  They’re familiar to us all.  Tragedies often unite people.  This is a common theme in movies.  We can see it in life also.  Hurricanes, storms, 9/11, and even death bring people together to help those in need.  Illness can help people reevaluate their lives and bring gratitude for what they have.  I’m not suggesting this is the reason for bad things, or that it makes everything okay, but rather a common effect.  Somehow, hope rises from the depths of despair.  A flicker of light joins with other flickers and soon becomes bright enough to guide the way forward.  This is Christianity’s story.  We find our hope in Christ’s resurrection.

How can you find courage to hope?  Begin by turning to the Source of all hope.  Begin by crying out to God.  God hears your every thought and understands even your groans.  Try praying aloud.  Tell God how you feel and what you need.  God already knows, but longs for you to bring your whole self to God.  Give your anger, fear, disappointment, and pain to God.  Then watch God remake it into hope, courage, peace, and love.  May God fill you with God’s love and give you peace today.  Read I Peter 1:1-13, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie