“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114
Our minds are filled with questions. Our hearts are filled with grief. Our consciences are filled with guilt. But God’s Word is filled with hope. Hope is not something wished for, but hope is confidence and assurance. God’s Word tells us what Jesus has done for us, to rescue and save us. God’s Word tells us that there is forgiveness. Questions without answers provide no comfort. God’s Word gives us hope, and shows us the one greater than our sin, our grief, and our helplessness.
We live in a world gone horribly wrong. This is not the way things are supposed to be. God did not create us for suffering, sorrow, and tribulation. These things were never part of the plan. These things entered the world through our sin. But God has responded to our fall by giving us a shield and a hiding place.
God sent His Son into this world gone horribly wrong to give us hope. Into this world turned upside down, Jesus came to set it right again. As our shield and hiding place, Jesus took our sin and guilt and provided forgiveness and hope.
Sometimes, though, we think there is no hope. That my sadness, my trouble, my trial, my sin is too much. That there is no love greater than these, that could overcome these. But Jesus shows us there is. His love. And He showed it to us on the cross. That He would rather die than have us die.
I can’t answer why things happen as they do in this world. I do not even know why God would love us so much to give His Son for us! For who am I that God should do that for me? For you? But He did. We have a Savior whose love is far greater than we could ever imagine. A Savior we can trust and hope in. We look to Him for hope, for forgiveness, for comfort and strength. And He will not let us down.
Christ is Risen!
Pastor Schneider
