Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Many times, we fall upon rough times. Times of sadness, sorrow, pain, illness, so many different times of darkness. What pulls us out? This can be different for everyone. The coping skills used to pull oneself out of a dark place vary from person to person. Some are healthy, some not so much. Here are some things that help me when the darkness starts to close in.
Maintaining a positive outlook on life, looking for the good around us even when things look bleak, can help so much in lifting us up. Sometimes the good we see we don’t see with our eyes; we see it with our hearts. Think about these uplifting words, faith, joy, and love. Think what they mean and what the image is that enters your mind when you think about these words.
Faith. Faith in things not seen. Faith in promises written long ago. Faith in the forgiving grace of a loving savior. Faith in our Lord who paid a heavy price for our sins. Faith in a loving Father who will stay by our sides through any storm. Faith that through it all, He is reaching toward us with an open hand waiting for us to grasp His tightly and hold on.
Joy. Joy with each beautiful sunrise and sunset. Joy with the bird’s song rising through the trees. Joy in the fall leaves as they dance across the ground on a breeze. Joy in a baby’s soft coo. Joy in a friends smile and hug. Joy in the promise of eternity with God surrounded by peace.
Love. The love felt as a child looks up to their parent. The love felt when a new mom holds her newborn baby. The love felt when we return home to a wagging tail. The love given with vows for a lifetime together. The love offered by the price paid on a cross. God who is love.
These are some of the things that go through my mind thinking about these words. Each image giving me hope and peace as well as increasing faith, joy, and love. There is no room for darkness where there is the light of our Heavenly Father.