Hope

hope comes from faith,

is rooted in the Love

of the One who first loved us.

but, in the face of death, trial and sorrow

who can stand?

why’s so often triumph

over hope

in the face of seemingly

overpowering odds.

questions pierce our armor

and deal dark blows to our souls:

who can understand loss?

why is this happening to me?

this is unfair;

where is the justice in all this?

others seem to get off scot-free,

why me?

is there any sorrow like mine?

this is too much-

I cannot bear it all.

so much, too soon.

where is God in all this?

where is the end?

where is the promise of hope?

where is the promise of

all things working for good

for those who love him?

I don’t see it.

I don’t feel it.

only darkness surrounds me,

and, no answers secure peace.

the One who said He

will always be with us

seems so far away.

I know He isn’t a liar, but,

where is He?

comfort avoids me

no matter how much I beg,

the trial goes on and on

without a certitude and

end in sight.

but, the Word stands.

it doesn’t waver.

it doesn’t collapse

in the face of dark power.

it’s light beacons hope.

faith in the One who bore

our sorrow,

who suffered for our wrongs,

who walked through the valley of death

sharing our trials and aloneness.

he is the One who touches us

when we cannot feel His embrace.

he is the One who loves us

when we feel we are unloveable.

he is the One who is with us

and promises the End will be just.

He is the One who carries us

when we cannot walk anymore.

hope is in Him because we can believe

even when we are numb.

not feeling faith and hope

doesn’t mean we are conquered.

it only means we need others

to help us bear the burden

of our calling right now.

flesh and blood grace us

and, become our conduit of Life

from the Source of all Love.

and, does this not show

our poverty?

does this not show our need for more?

is not our vision limited?

are we not called

to an eternal fulfillment

which points beyond

these  pitiful limits?

does not the love of others

manifest His heart of comfort?

do not His wounds and scars-

still visible in risen flesh-

cry for us to come to Him

with our willful essence

so often turning away from

what He has to offer?

death, trial and sorrow

can conquer us, but, they

can also bring us closer

to the One who first

loved us, and,

who

loves us

still.