“It is time to call in Hospice.” These were the doctor’s words as he walked into the hallway and spoke to anxiously awaiting family members. The family, especially that precious husband, stood in silence as he began to describe the declining state of the patient’s organs and bodily functions. As compassionately as possible he told the family, “we’ve done everything we can possibly do and she is simply not getting any better.”
Sitting in the waiting area next to that dear family as they tried to soak in the gut-wrenching news they had just received, one part of me didn’t want to eavesdrop, but the other part of me wanted to take in every word and run with arms open wide to embrace each one. As the doctor walked away, the family sat in heavy silence – in shock. As I silently prayed, I realized what this family desperately needed — hope. It was exactly what they lost and needed in one simultaneous moment. Hope.
As he was thirsting after God in the wilderness of Judah, David knew his hope was in God alone. He had been David’s help in times past and he knew God alone would be the one to uphold him in times of trouble. Hope was in God alone.
Psalm 63
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me. (NASB)
In all of life, whether in the prime of perfect health or in the last breath of severe illness, it all comes down to just one thing – where is hope? If hope is placed in anything or anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ, hope will vanish with the last heartbeat. But if hope is in God alone and the abundance of His mercy, grace, and redemptive power, circumstances of this life will not diminish the hope embedded deeply within the walls of a heart.
Hope rises above circumstances.
Hope brings joy in the midst of sorrow.
Hope brings calm in the midst of the storm.
Hope shines light in the midst of darkness.
Hope showers living water in a dry and thirsty land.
Hope breathes peace in the face of death.
Hope is upheld by a mighty and righteous right hand.
Hope is sustenance in the despondency of death.
Hope is Jesus Christ — the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Where there is life – there is hope.
Abundant Heart 