• Hope In Anguish

  Contributed by Richard Francis on May 10, 2009 (message contributor)

    (rate this sermon illustration)

   | 4,456 views

  Scripture:  None

  Tags:  God Brings Hope

  Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

HOPE IN ANGUISH

I remember times of betrayal that cut deep into my heart, pain beyond a flesh wound. These are the deepest cuts that never seem to heal, a soul wound like Frodo stabbed by the ring-wraith's sword, an ache that will not heal. I remember times of fear wondering how the money would stretch, how the family would be fed and would we keep the house for another month.

If we live, we will all suffer pain. If we truly live and love as Jesus calls us to, we will suffer deep pain, because our hearts will be open. As Jesus shows, in fact, we are promised trials, rejection, hurts and the like. Jesus never promised a life free of anguish, but he understands--he had enough moments to cry out to the Lord, even to the point of sweating blood. That’s anguish.