Words of Hope

In days like these, I always come back to scripture, to the words of God for the people of God.  We often forget that the days in which these words were first spoken, written & shared were very difficult times.  Injustice, oppression, tragedy, cultural & political turmoil, violence, sin, division have always been at work in the world.  And in the middle of the chaos, there are people who have hope, peace & a vision for the way things ought to be.  These are people who belong to a different Kingdom.  They draw strength from a different Source.  Their trust is in another Way.

And the people of God find hope from God in these words…

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is #love. 1 Corinthians 13.13

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Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16.33

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Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever…
The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
Isaiah 9.1-2

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14.27

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But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ… Philippians 3.20

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For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 13.14

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“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst. Luke 17.20-21

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You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Ephesians 2.19-21

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So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

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Perhaps these are the words we should… “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”  Deuteronomy 6.7

What words of hope do you turn to in times like these?