Focus on Faith

When you feel like everything around you is in rubble, there is nothing to do but pray. Whether your world has been devastated by flood, tornado, or fire, there is always hope in God. And there is help from others around you. Take a moment to consider your blessings: your lives, most importantly. Hug those you love and give thanks.

Though I have not personally experienced such devastation, it seems it is all around me, in Iowa -especially this summer. My heart is broken for the losses people have experienced and I want to provide a moment of hope to lift them up. For God is our hope.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV).

In the worst of times we must focus on what is really important. Not our belongings or what is on this earth, but what awaits us in eternity when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Each day our focus needs to be on Jesus; walking with Him, trusting in Him, believing in Him. When all the 'things' of life are lost, without Jesus, there is nothing.

But, with Him we can claim eternal peace and delight!

"God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life," (1 John 5:11-12 NIV).

"Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you," (Psalm 39:4-7 NIV).

Yes, my hope is in You, Lord. Amen.