Looking at world news, it won't take long for anyone to notice all the terrible tragedies happening around the world today. How can we find hope in the midst of all of this suffering?
Media is full of so much bad news and it can often seem like there is no more hope. How do we find hope in the midst of all the negative news that fills up our news feeds, newspapers and homepages?
Look to the hope in Christ
It's hard to find hope in this world because nothing is sure. The government can help, but it won't always be noble. United Nations is a wonderful initiative but it also has its weaknesses. Non-profits are great, but they can only do so much.
But one Person we can turn to who we know will never fail us is Jesus Christ. We look to the hope we have in Him. Things might not be the way God would like, but one day when He returns, all things will turn out wonderfully for all those who put their faith in Him. 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Cast your cares on God
Suffering should draw us even closer to God in prayer and petition, not repel us from His presence. The more negative news there is, the more we should come to God to lay down our requests, desperation, frustrations and pleas to Him. Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
A friend once told me this powerful thought on suffering: For what it's worth, suffering should not make us lose hope in our faith, but teach us to be more desperate for God's move in this day and age. As the world suffers, we need to cry out for God to continue to come and heal the nations. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Trust in God's higher ways
Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
We may not always know why God allows such suffering to happen or why terrible things happen in this world, but God knows and He also promises that He will make all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). He has also promised an end, a time when there will be no more tears or pain (Revelation 21:4). Now that really is something worth hoping in.
