“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more” - Psalm 71:14 (NIV).
A bestselling book written by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken, that sold over 10 million copies worldwide, is about a fighter jet during World War 11 that crashed in the Pacific. Out of its 11 crew only three survived the crash. Louise, Phil and Mac swam on to a raft.
Louise was a legendary Olympic marathoner who wished after the war to go back and compete in the next Olympic 5,000 marathon race. Phil had joined the war after being engaged to his childhood school sweet heart, Cecy, and was impatient to get back home, marry and start a family. But Mac didn’t have much of a story. Once they got on the raft his mates had to restrain him as he kept screaming, “we are going to die!”
Lost at sea, the trio survived on rain water (they couldn’t take salty sea water) and scooping out fish, which they ate raw, while fighting off sharks. Louise and Phil were always hopeful they would make it, because of the life they wanted to return to. Mac didn’t have any hope. He kept confessing death. And sadly, but surely, he died on the 34th day at sea.
Left alone, the pair, Louse and Phil would drift for a record 47 days till the raft hit an island. Captured by the Japanese, their ordeal was not over. They were imprisoned for two and half years under extremely harsh conditions. But finally, once the war came to an end in August,1945 they were released and the two soldiers, who had been before reported dead, returned to their ecstatic families.
Hope is what saved them. The Bible describes hope as one of the major gifts we have as Christians - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love..(1 Cor. 13:13). Paul wrote to the Romans, “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). He later went on to explain, “hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
(Rom. 8:24-25)
When people are hit with trials one of the greatest weapon they need for survival is hope. Everyone these days talks of building immunity against Covid -19. yet there is no immunity as effective as hope. Once one loses hope there goes a life. The beauty of being a Christian is that those that believe carry within them that hope of a risen Christ wherever they go.
Today, do not lose that hope, regardless of whatever circumstances. Keep hope alive for hope will get you through any dangerous seas.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for the hope you have given me through Christ Jesus, which empowers me to live on joyfully, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
