Hope

"You have to have hope!"

No matter what the doctors say and no matter what the internet says when you look up the disease the doctor says you have. You have to have hope.

Every so often Dutch asks me if he is doing better, hoping that I will say yes and that his disease is going away. To find encouraging words in light of a dim outlook.... I remember when our son Todd faced the same thing. After his surgeries to remove cancer from his body, we would tell him: "Now see? You will get a little bit better each day!" When we knew he was dying, we told him: " Now you will get all the way better. You are going home with Jesus!"

The other day our Pastor talked on something to do with labor pains. It occurred to me some time last week, that dying is like birth pangs as well. For some it goes quickly, for some it is drawn out, for some the time is precious, for others, painful. But in every case of the believer, what is at the end of the labor is a new life.

Psalm 62:5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.Psalm 62:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 62 (Whole Chapter)

Isaiah 40:31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.Isaiah 40:30-31 (in Context) Isaiah 40 (Whole Chapter)

Romans 5:3-5

3Not only so, but we[a] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.Romans 12:11-13 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:12-14 (in Context) Romans 15 (Whole Chapter)