hope in hard times

It was quite a month for our family. First, my wife had emergency surgery that left her battling poison in her system. Then, our daughter had a difficult surgery. Just a few days later, our grandson was hospitalised with pneumonia and bronchitis. It was a challenging time of frustration and reversals. But it was much more than that.

As a minister, I’ve spent hundreds of hours visiting people in the hospital. Sometimes I was there to celebrate a baby’s birth, but most of the time my hospital visits were more necessary than joyful. When we’re hurting, we need help. We need prayer. We need encouragement.

Now, as never before, our family was in need of that encouragement—and others came through for us. People brought meals and wrote cards. Pastors called. Hospital staff were kind and encouraging. It was humbling and thrilling to be on the receiving end of such compassion, in part because we needed it so very much.

Times of pain and illness show us how vulnerable we are. Our struggles intensify. Strength is lost. Even the most caring friends or loved ones can’t help. Our dependency is bigger than us—but not bigger than God.

The Bible says many things about our heavenly Father, but trouble reveals that He is the very present help we desperately need. He is more than enough to compensate for our inadequacy, and His faithfulness provides new mercies every morning. Statements of His care for us become more than religious words. God’s Word is the lifeline of hope and trust.

ROMANS 15:13

This special edition is dedicated to those who are hurting and those who care for the hurting. These Our Daily Bread articles are a reminder that God gives strength to the weak and hope to the desperate. God meets us where we are, welcomes us into His arms and helps us with our needs.

He is with you; so you are never alone. He walks every path of pain. Our prayer is that these readings and reflections will help you cry out to Your Father and cling to Him in real, daily hope.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (ROMANS 15:13). This God of hope is present—even now. May His strength comfort you and those you love in challenging times.

11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.

12 In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. 13 You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.

14 With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding. 15 You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.

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I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

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