It was hard to find joy today. We received word that a young family member took his own life. In his early 20′s, he just couldn’t see hope in life. He had attempted this before, but through intervention was working on it. We don’t know many details. His body was just discovered earlier today, but even knowing every detail will never answer: “Why couldn’t he see any hope?”

After tears of the news, I knew the only thing that I could do was pray. I petitioned God to wrap His loving arms around us. I asked the Holy Spirit to give us strength to weather this storm. And I was thankful for Christ’s sacrifice, Our Hope, even in this world where no other hope can be found.

I did cry some more. Then I had one more request: “Please protect us all from hopelessness. You are the True Giver of hope.”

Then, the most amazing thing happened. A simple song based Romans 5:2 came into my head.
Rejoice! Rejoice in the hope, Rejoice! Rejoice in the hope,
Rejoice! Rejoice in the hope, For you have been redeemed.
God so loved the world He gave His only Son,
That all we need is to believe That we’re saved by the Holy One.

Yes, God has done it again!  Yes, I have a heart that mourns for our loved one, but there is a joy, a little subdued then it was earlier today, but it is true joy because we’re saved by the Holy One.  How profound is that!!??

P.K.