Our Hope Is God
Good morning Immanuel. As our city navigates the aftermath of yesterday’s heartbreaking tragedy at Covenant School, let us hold fast to our hope in God.
One of the most repeated commands in scripture is to remember, so we turn to his word to remind us of who he is, what he has done, and what he has promised. May these words from God himself fill your hearts, give you comfort, strengthen your resolve, and guide your prayers.
Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
God is near, comforting and healing the grieving and desperate. His heart is for the crushed and broken. He will never leave or forsake you.
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John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Romans 8:34 - Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
No one understands or feels more deeply the pain and sorrow of such a tragic, evil, and unjust event. Jesus himself can “sympathize with our weakness” (Hebrews 4:15). He walked through death, conquered death, and is our hope in the face of death. And he is now with God, hearing our prayers and interceding on our behalf with the deepest compassion and understanding.
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Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
James 1:20 - The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
God hates evil more than we do. Anger at such evil is right and is a reflection of God’s heart, but hand your anger over to God and trust that the sovereign ruler of the universe will bring about justice in his perfect time.
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Revelation 21:3-5a - And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
While our present life is marked by sin and pain, we have a certain future. Christ will return and will set right all wrongs and do away with all evil and pain. When all around us seems dark and crushing, we lift our eyes to the horizon and yearn for the coming of Jesus, who will make all things new.
Let’s cling to the truth of God’s word, the hope of Jesus, and the promise of his return.
Amen 🙏🏼