By David Coy
Sunrise
What is your hope? What do you hope for most of all right now? Do you know what hope is? It is the union of desire and expectation. “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25). Patience from the Greek huppmone, is cheerful (hopeful) endurance, patent continuance (waiting). Hope from the Greek elpidzo, is to expect, trust. If someone were to ask you what you hope for, what would you tell them? You see, hope is a reasoned, rational (based on evidence) answer or response to the question just as faith is the support, assurance or confidence of hope based on the proof, evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). I was humbled and honored to be asked to be a part of a candle light vigil this week in honor of the memory of loved ones lost. We prayed and gave encouragement to one another as we all shared loved ones we have lost in addition to those we assembled to honor.
I attempted in my prayer and message to give them strength and hope from above as I read Ephesians 3:14-19, and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Having this hope (3:12 of 2 Corinthians), I said we are bold and then went into reading the text in Ephesians. I said that this hope is our anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19). What is your greatest fear? Anything I fear pales in comparison to my hope that is so beautifully expressed in 2 Corinthians 4 text cited above. I hope you can say this week and every day you are given life that you possess by faith (evidence of things not seen) that hope as an anchor to your soul. This, along with your constant support from others, will carry you through every trial, tribulation and loss that materializes in your life as it will in mine. This is my prayer for you also each and every day.
This is Sunrise Aftercare.
