Hope is the key

Hope has always been my word. It is the theme of the verse the Lord gave me years ago, on numerous occasions. Found in Jeremiah 29:11 it says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." Doesn't that give you peace? It does me. It is what I cling to when my world seems to be falling apart. It is a constant reminder that He holds me in the palm of His hand. Oh and therein lies the true key...the important part, where your hope lies. Psalm 39:7 says "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you."

I recently had the great privilege of speaking about depression and chronic illness with a group of fellow transplant patients. A comment by an attendee got my attention; "we are faced with our mortality in a way others are not and that's frightening." I would by no means argue that point at all, but what if we look at it as a gift. A gift, as in, we look death in the face and say "I have absolutely no control here." We learn what that means, get it straight and move on to live the life planned for us.

The truth is none of us have control, we just think we do. We speed through life trying to achieve those all important goals we set for ourselves; money, career, family, etc...but in the end no amount of money can keep you young and healthy, no career can satisfy your needs, and no family or person can fill the void of love in you. So when that doctor comes in and says you have such and such disease and it's terminal, mortality hits you square in the eyes. You come face to face with the realization that your healthy eating, exercise, great gene pool, money for the best care....it's all rubbish. If you don't reach out to the one that conquered mortality you will forever live in fear.

I always knew, even at age 8 when I was diagnosed there was nothing in the world my parents could do to save me, to heal me. I was, however, saved around the same time and that is when my heavenly Father placed a little bulb called hope inside me. He has watered it over the years through his word, faithful friends who have spoken truth and comfort, and a loving family that held my hand through the pain.

So yes, maybe I was faced with my mortality at the tender age of 8 years old. But so too will you come face to face with it. My question to you is, where does your hope lie?