Words of Hope: A Sacred Moment
I opened my office drawer for a notecard and found the one I selected was already written on in my dad’s handwriting.
It’s a card with a beautiful tree on the front. He wrote it to the NBC office staff.
Hello Team!
The Lord knows best for you and me. My test scores were not good today. Seems a new path has opened for me! Pray for this—That I will live with holy hands held high—free from those sins that rob joy, peace and hope from us.
I rest in Him!
Love, Fred
The card stunned me. The front is a painting of a tree entitled, Kamani Tree Across Graveyard. Another card was in the middle of this card. The message on this new card said, “That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.”
What a series of messages! How utterly profound in a few short moments. I take time to write these thoughts down – slow down, pay attention, life is so short, God can use anything for our good, do not be afraid.
I read with deepest admiration my dad’s message about his cancer. It’s a journey, God is at the center. This is for good, not evil. He prays for freedom from the sins that rob our joy, peace, and hope. I consider these sins that plague my own life. Ignatius says the two biggest robbers are anger and greed. C.S. Lewis would place pride at the center. The Psalmist says we should not fret; it leads only to evil.
What a perfect opportunity to pray and thank the Lord for this holy moment. Consider with me and answer these questions for yourself:
- What sin is blocking the work of the Holy Spirit in my life?
- Am I living robbed of joy, peace, hope, or all three?
- What situation do I really want to change before I feel I can live with this freedom?
- How can I trust God to use this situation for good?
I love the song God turned it Around. The lyrics say, “What the enemy meant for evil, God has turned it around for my good.” I meditate on these words as I think with joy how God turned even cancer around for good for my dad. Even in this tough circumstance, Dad found true joy, peace, and hope.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7
