Comforted by God’s Gift of Hope
A guy named Alex engaged me in conversation at the Waffle House. Alex told me how the Lord had blessed him and his wife with two miracles.
After seventeen years of marriage, their hope of having a baby was almost gone due to multiple miscarriages. The couple was referred to a “praying doctor” who assured them that, if they really wanted to have a baby, he would help them.
His wife was to go see the doctor every Friday morning for testing until she became pregnant. When her pregnancy was confirmed, she was told to come to the doctor’s office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for appropriate injections to treat anemia.
All of this continued for eight months until she gave birth to an eight-pound boy during the first week of December. Afterwards, when Gus went to the doctor’s office to arrange for paying the bill, the doctor took the piece of paper on which the charges had been written, crumpled it in his hand, shook hands with Gus and said, “Merry Christmas!” But that was not the end of the story!
Again Alex’s wife became pregnant; the same doctor treated her, repeating the same routine as before. Unfortunately, during his wife’s sixth month of pregnancy, the doctor suffered a heart attack, was rushed to the hospital.
The next day, at the doctor’s request, Alex and his wife were summoned to the hospital. The doctor told them that he had explained the situation to one of his colleagues, and that his doctor friend would take up where he left off. Two days later, the “praying doctor” died.
Three months later, a second child was born – this time a daughter. Three days after her birth, Alex went to the hospital to make arrangements for paying the bill. As he approached the business office, he observed the deceased doctor’s wife involved in quite a discussion with the lady seated behind the desk.
Alex waited until the doctor’s wife left, then approached the desk and stated that he had come to make arrangements for paying the bill. The clerk smiled at him and handed him a piece of paper. At the top of the paper, Alex’s and his wife’s names had been scribbled, followed by a hand-written note that read:
“There are to be no charges to this couple for doctor’s care, and no charges by the hospital for delivery.” The instruction was signed by the “praying doctor” prior to his death. Intently Alex looked into my eyes, and he asked, “Wouldn’t you call that a miracle?”
Not only a miracle, but an illustration of the hope that was made real by that miracle in a manger many years ago - when the hopes and fears of all the years met in Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth. While we usually sing “Joy to the world, the Lord has come”, we would just as easily sing . . . God’s Gift of Hope has come”!
When we find ourselves in unwanted situations . . . we need to know this: God’s gift of Hope has come . . . is real . . . sustains the believer . . . carries us through life, especially as we go through the valley of the shadow of depression.
Which leaves a person feeling helpless if not hopeless, as was the case with the couple who, when hope was almost gone due to unwanted circumstances, went to see the “praying doctor”. When depressed, seek help! When David found himself stressed and depressed, he sought divine help, and consequently was inspired to put his hope in God - Psalm 42 . . .
Better than any other psalm of David, the 42nd Psalm instructs us on how to deal with depression that occurs when we are constantly bombarded by taunts in the form of a cynical question, “Where is your God?”
Not a well-meaning question! Not unlike the tactic employed by Satan in the Garden of Eden: “Wilt thou surely die?”
When the seed of doubt is planted in one’s mind and allowed to take root, the inevitable result is: a weed of discouragement springs up and, if not dealt with, chokes the life out of one’s spirit – and you feel as if you are “drowning” in your sorrows – which is exactly the way David felt!
However, rather than “give in” to discouragement, David did an about face! In his response to Satan’s attempt to drag him down, David showed us how to deal with “spiritual depression”:
David asks God why. David knew where God was; he gave expression of his awareness of God’s presence in many of his songs of praise. Knowing that God is Spirit and therefore everywhere, what David needed to know was why he (David) was “downcast”! We might ask the same question!
David affirms God’s love for him. David never lost sight of the fact of God’s omnipotence as ruler of everything and God’s omnipresence as rescuer in times of trouble – much like Jesus who, when the tempest was raging, commanded the seas to be still. “Be still and know that I am God!”
David sings. Musically, you may not be able to carry a tune in a bucket, but deep within your heart there is a melody!
When Dr. and Mrs. Wells Riley attended our Bible Study, he would whistle the melody of the hymns we played. For many years, Wells sang tenor in the choir of Jonesboro First Baptist Church. He might have lost his ability to sing out loud but he still has the melody of love in his heart.
During visitation at the funeral home following Nancy’s death, the oldest son shared with me a heartwarming experience: He went to the nursing home to inform Wells of Nancy’s passing, and he asked his dad if there was a request he would like to make with regard to his wife’s funeral service.
In his initial response, Dr. Riley said “no”, but a few minutes later said, “There is one hymn Nancy dearly loved – ‘Blessed Assurance’.” Then, the son recalled, after a few moments of silence, Wells began to sing the hymn softly. There was not a dry eye in the room.
David preaches to his own soul. Rather than question God, David questions himself: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope in God!”
We say we believe in God. What better time to show it than in times of distress? Praise God! When we praise Him for His salvation we act our way into feeling better about ourselves . . . God’s promises . . . our final destination!
David remembers past experiences. Some of you have shared with me your happiest moments that occurred in connection with the gifts God gave you through the years . . . church fellowships you were part of . . . ministries in which you were involved. How gratifying! How satisfying! How rewarding!
David thirsts for God. The better we get to know God - praying, studying His Word, heeding what He says, doing what He wills - the more we love Him . . . want to behold Him face to face . . . long to be with Him in the realm of His glory!
In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the moment God gives the signal, “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived of what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (Isaiah 64:4 quoted by Paul in I Corinthians 2:19)
One of the greatest truths ever uttered by Jesus was (is): “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” When we were converted, we saw the light of the gospel which tells of the glory of Christ who is the image of God! (2 Corinthians 4:4)
How can I not long for (thirst after) the realization of that sure hope of seeing the Son of God? Amen.
