Nature Speaks Volumes to us about Faith and Hope!

There are times in our lives when our faith seems to fly right out the window. Life can hand us some brutal circumstances and we’re left feeling like we’re drifting out to sea without a life jacket or a captain to steer the boat. It’s a terrible feeling of being lost and shipwrecked.

If you’re facing some of the harshness of the day such as job loss, financial insecurities, broken relationships, or the loss of a loved one, that’s the time when you most need your faith and hope. But, how does that happen when all looks dark?

During my own desert times of faith I’ve done two things that have helped me, and I’ll share them with you. I’ve saturated myself in the Psalms. There are cries of hopelessness followed by the assurance that God is alive and real. And, that’s just what we need whenever the unrelenting seas of grief and pain are battering us.

I also walk among nature. Just seeing the many wonders of nature is calming to my soul. Nature is God’s display of His wondrous love and care and power. Nature speaks volumes to us about hope. The seasons come and go, and we know that there is always a spring that follows the depths of winter.

Hope is alive, and hope is the key to restoring our faith. Faith and hope are the keys to survival! When obstacles and trials seem like prison walls, we can break free by clinging onto our hope in the power of the Almighty! --Clara Hinton

“When there seems to be no chance of being set free from my grief, hope bathes my soul with new strength and I am set free!” --Clara Hinton

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

Winter Does Not Last Forever!

“The sun is shining, there are sounds of joy all around, yet I do not feel spring in my heart. Instead there is the lingering cold of winter and I don’t know what to do about it.” Any person going through grief and loss has expressed those very words. Grief is a lonely word and it puts you on a journey to a lonely land – for a while.

The good news is that this feeling of winter does not last forever! God, in His infinite wisdom, has provided HOPE for us when traveling this difficult path. Hope comes to us in ways too numerous to count, and comes in the most surprising ways to provide comfort and hope to our hurting hearts.

The butterfly that you saw was bringing you a message that there is a new life waiting for you. Give it time to emerge. The rainbow brings promises of blue skies and the truth that this storm will not last forever. The robin brings tidings of spring – assurance that winter will end and flowers will soon bloom!

Today if you feel afraid and lonely, take a step back and look at nature – God’s gift to us. Nature doesn’t worry, nor does it remain in a state of cold bleakness. Nature sprouts forth new life, new joy, and a promise of a glorious array of splendor for you to enjoy! Hope assures us of that!Your spring is coming, and when it does, it will be wonderful! --C. Hinton

“Hope helps me remember how to live.” --Clara Hinton

“But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.” --Psalm 3:3

Don't be Afraid to Face the Holidays!

The holiday season is here, and for many this is a time of special family gatherings, festive occasions, and getting together for meals and laughter. For others, though, this is a season of sadness, tears, and sorrow. When a loved one is no longer with us, we feel the emptiness even more during those special days called “family days.”

Gathering the strength to get through the holidays can be difficult. At times, we feel overwhelmed and so lonely that we think we will not be able to make it through the day. A tear falling from our heart stains every minute of the day and night.

God, in His infinite wisdom, seems to know exactly the right moment to place hope in our lives. He knows when we need to hear His voice whispering in our ear that He loves us. He knows when to send the rainbow to paint the sky so that we will be reminded of His promises. He knows when to give us rest from our heavy burdens by sending a friend to give us a strong shoulder and a listening ear. He knows when to give our weary souls rest from the heaviness of grief by sending the bright sunshine to warm our souls.

Don’t worry about facing the holidays alone because you have a Friend that is always with you. He is your Father, your Shepherd, and your Friend. His promises are true, and he cannot leave you because you are made in His image. And, above all else, He is your hope! --Clara Hinton

“There is relief from this wound we call grief, and that relief is hope!” --Clara Hinton

“Cease striving, and know that I am God.” --Psalm 46:10