To acknowledge that “pain often comes in waves” is not something that any of us would challenge.

This reality is true for all of us, everywhere.

Our world has been under severe attack, on one level or another over the past 24 months. We have been challenged physically, financially, unrest in our streets, hostility between nations, disappointment with spiritual leaders and division in politics.

Add to all of this the personal pain that visits us … grief, loss, injustice and heartbreak make a run at us … and we do feel the wave for sure!

Pain Often Comes In Waves That Only An Ocean Of Love Can Overwhelm … The Father’s Love Always Floods Our Hearts With Hope And Healing

Every generation will be shaped by the experiences that they enjoy or endure, the influences that impact them, good or bad and the attitudes that they develop based on how they react or respond to these realities.

I was reading a collection of heartfelt prayers that were written by students from Asbury Seminary, all addressing this in a very sincere and strategic manner. Their prayers articulate how we can best position ourselves for turbulent times.

Speak to us, O Lord! That we hear your voice in the midst of each trial. Teach us to live in unity where there is separation, have hope when there is fear, pour out love where hate arises, hold peace when there is trouble, and testify the name of Jesus where there is silence. (Rob Lim and Ruth Chieng, students)

Kind Father,
We thank you that your steadfast love never ceases and that your mercies are new every morning. Today, we ask for a fresh outpouring of your mercy, and may we begin to understand the depths of your love. May we remember that you have lavished your great love on us, so that we should be called the children of God. As we walk through difficult times, let us walk as your children. Let us walk by faith in you and not by sight. As we walk through the depths of this valley, may we see you in the heights of your glory. Lord, we pray that you would calm the storm that is brewing all around. We also ask that joy would come in the morning after the heaviness of this night. We ask this humbly in the name of Jesus. (Tammy Hogan, staff)

I love the fervency and focus of these prayers!

Pain Often Comes In Waves That Only An Ocean Of Love Can Overwhelm … The Father’s Love Always Floods Our Hearts With Hope And Healing

Scott Cormode writes this in his article, “Imagining Hope in the Midst of Pain” …

Hope in the midst of pain. We Christians can have a hard time holding the two — hope and pain — together. Our discussions of hope often skip past the reality of pain. And our thoughts about pain are often surprisingly unspecific about the sources of Christian hope.

This is a challenge that endures among us and one that we need to debunk, in a most decisive kind of way.

Scott goes on to say this, “The gospel is God’s response to the human condition. It is God’s imaginative response to our shared story of longing and loss, and it is the gospel that turns our common experience into a shared story of future hope.

This truly is the ultimate intent, and it is this that redeems and reconciles us to the Father in a way that brings honor to the Son!

We know this to be true and many of us are living in the stretch and strain of these very things right now!

Pain Often Comes In Waves That Only An Ocean Of Love Can Overwhelm … The Father’s Love Always Floods Our Hearts With Hope And Healing

This is a life truth that we do want to take on.

It changes everything for us and for the generations around us!

Say yes to this … and walk all the more intimately connected to Christ.

I know that I am in … and you?
-Terry-

2022 THEME
Christ Above, Christ Alone, Christ In All … This Is Our Anthem; This Is Our Call