Comments on: Steps to Hope http://hopeforlife.org/2008/11/steps_to_hope/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:51:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tim Archer http://hopeforlife.org/2008/11/steps_to_hope/comment-page-1/#comment-391 Tim Archer Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://hopeforlife.dreamhosters.com/?p=64#comment-391 Maya, I am so sorry to hear about the hurt that you have experienced. I'm sorry too to see the anger and resentment that burn inside of you; those things will consume you if you do not let go of them. I know that some people preach that Christians' lives will be full of material blessings, that they will be spared from illness, etc. But that isn't the message of the Bible. The writer of Psalm 73 went through much similar to your experience. He wrote that the wicked are more prosperous, they are healthier, they are carefree, they are constantly increasing in wealth. (Psalms 73:3-12) Then he said almost the same thing you said: “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.” (Psalms 73:13-14) It was pointless, he said. I followed God and got nothing out of it. However, if you keep reading in that psalm, the writer comes to realize that death is the great equalizer. These people may be happy now, but there is a judgment day that is coming. The righteous have hope after this life; the unrighteous have none. The Christian life isn't about being spared troubles and suffering; it's about finding hope in the midst of suffering, hope that goes beyond this world. The apostle Paul wrote: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) He also wrote, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2Corinthians 4:17) Suffering, persecution, hardship… that's what is in store for the Christian. It may not sound attractive, but it leads to an unending life of glory. That's what gives us hope. I hope that you can find God's hope and know his peace. Grace and peace, Tim Maya,

I am so sorry to hear about the hurt that you have experienced. I’m sorry too to see the anger and resentment that burn inside of you; those things will consume you if you do not let go of them.

I know that some people preach that Christians’ lives will be full of material blessings, that they will be spared from illness, etc. But that isn’t the message of the Bible.

The writer of Psalm 73 went through much similar to your experience. He wrote that the wicked are more prosperous, they are healthier, they are carefree, they are constantly increasing in wealth. (Psalms 73:3-12) Then he said almost the same thing you said: “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.” (Psalms 73:13-14) It was pointless, he said. I followed God and got nothing out of it.

However, if you keep reading in that psalm, the writer comes to realize that death is the great equalizer. These people may be happy now, but there is a judgment day that is coming. The righteous have hope after this life; the unrighteous have none.

The Christian life isn’t about being spared troubles and suffering; it’s about finding hope in the midst of suffering, hope that goes beyond this world. The apostle Paul wrote: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) He also wrote, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2Corinthians 4:17)

Suffering, persecution, hardship… that’s what is in store for the Christian. It may not sound attractive, but it leads to an unending life of glory. That’s what gives us hope.

I hope that you can find God’s hope and know his peace.

Grace and peace,
Tim

]]> By: MAYA SINHA http://hopeforlife.org/2008/11/steps_to_hope/comment-page-1/#comment-390 MAYA SINHA Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://hopeforlife.dreamhosters.com/?p=64#comment-390 DONOT KILL US BY RAISING FALSE HOPE IN OUR UNWANTED LIVES I HAVE ALWAYS SEEND AND EXPEREIONCED IN MY PERSONAL LIVE , THAT CRULE/ DISHONEST PEOPLE LIVE HAPPILY & THEIR ALL WISHES ARE FULLFILLED. I BELEIVED IN GOD AND WALKED IN PATH OF GOD. I HAD CAUGHT FEW PEOPLE IN MY ORGANIZATION FOR PROSTITUTION/ ROBBERY / CORRUPTION. I WAS THREATENED ABOUT MY CAREER AND LIVE .TODAY TO MY SHOCK THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROMOTED AND LIVE A PPY LIVE WHERE AS I AM TOTALLY DIMINESHED AND MY CAREER / GOOD NAME IS TOTALLY RUINED. I WISH I HAD DIED. I DIDNOT GET ANY SUPPORT OR JUSTICE FROM GOD, INFACT GOD SUPPORTED THEM AND THEY GOT PROMOTED FOR THEIR DIRTY ACTIONS. HOPE NEVER EXITS FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK ON THE PATH OF GOD. DONOT KILL US BY RAISING FALSE HOPE IN OUR UNWANTED LIVES

I HAVE ALWAYS SEEND AND EXPEREIONCED IN MY PERSONAL LIVE , THAT CRULE/ DISHONEST PEOPLE LIVE HAPPILY & THEIR ALL WISHES ARE FULLFILLED.

I BELEIVED IN GOD AND WALKED IN PATH OF GOD.
I HAD CAUGHT FEW PEOPLE IN MY ORGANIZATION FOR PROSTITUTION/ ROBBERY / CORRUPTION. I WAS THREATENED ABOUT MY CAREER AND LIVE .TODAY TO MY SHOCK THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROMOTED AND LIVE A PPY LIVE WHERE AS I AM TOTALLY DIMINESHED AND MY CAREER / GOOD NAME IS TOTALLY RUINED.

I WISH I HAD DIED.

I DIDNOT GET ANY SUPPORT OR JUSTICE FROM GOD, INFACT GOD SUPPORTED THEM AND THEY GOT PROMOTED FOR THEIR DIRTY ACTIONS.

HOPE NEVER EXITS FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK ON THE PATH OF GOD.

]]> By: Randy Flynt http://hopeforlife.org/2008/11/steps_to_hope/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Randy Flynt Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://hopeforlife.dreamhosters.com/?p=64#comment-383 Tim, I absolutely agree with you. I think hope does exist and it must begin with a hope in God through Jesus Christ. I also beleive we are living in a time when we tend to think that is enough. I worry that we are not putting enough hope in one another to to keep the hope for life going. As much as I have faith in christ as my Savior I am afraid without a relationship in the hope we find in one another this hope will not last. Tim,
I absolutely agree with you. I think hope does exist and it must begin with a hope in God through Jesus Christ. I also beleive we are living in a time when we tend to think that is enough. I worry that we are not putting enough hope in one another to to keep the hope for life going. As much as I have faith in christ as my Savior I am afraid without a relationship in the hope we find in one another this hope will not last.

]]> By: Tim Archer http://hopeforlife.org/2008/11/steps_to_hope/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Tim Archer Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://hopeforlife.dreamhosters.com/?p=64#comment-384 Thanks Randy for the comment. I too believe that we must be plugged into the body of Christ in order to truly live in hope. Grace and peace, Tim Thanks Randy for the comment. I too believe that we must be plugged into the body of Christ in order to truly live in hope.

Grace and peace,
Tim

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