refreshing words {hope of heaven}.

life seems heavy sometimes. there are days when it seems too much to bear... it doesn't make sense... where grief can seem to outweigh blessings.

i've been reminded of this lately. so many stories, so much suffering. amidst the struggles and trials of life, there is one thing every human needs in order to keep on going: hope. hope is what tells us that life won't always hurt. that it won't always feel so heavy. that it won't always seem this dark.

this too, shall pass.

i love this devotional i read a couple of days ago...

"hope is the golden cord connecting you to heaven. this cord helps you hold your head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you. i never leave your side, and i never let go of your hand. but without the cord of hope, your head may slump and your feet may shuffle as you journey uphill with me. hope lifts your perspective from your weary feet to the glorious view you can see from the high road. you are minded that the road we're traveling together is ultimately a highway to heaven. when you consider this radiant destination, the roughness or smoothness of the road ahead becomes much less significant. i am training you to hold in your heart a dual focus: my continual presence and the hope of heaven."

(romans 12:12: rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer...

1 thessalonians 5:8: but since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

hebrews 6:18-19: so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for god to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.)

irving bible church in irving, texas was the place where nick&i met, we established deep friendships, and were employed and involved in several ministries. we just heard this week that the youth group there is grieving the loss of one of their students, friends, brothers. please be praying for this young man's family as well as the youth group at ibc. these things never make sense... pray these kids are held in the grace and peace of jesus, and that in him, they would find hope.