Hope in Crisis

Nobody ever said life was fair or easy. This may be the most difficult time in your life. The confusion and hurt raises many questions. Why did this happen to me? Why do bad things happen to good people? There are no simple answers. But the lesson learned by a man named Job can help.

Job once had everything. He may have been the world's richest man. His wealth did not protect him from tragedy. Disasters destroyed all of his possessions. Seven sons and three daughters also died. Then Job's health failed. In the midst of multiple crises and affliction, Job's wife said to him, "Curse God and die" (Job 2:7-9). But Job wasn't looking for the easy way out. He said to his wife, "Shall we receive only pleasant things from the hand of God and never anything unpleasant?" (Job 2:10). Job asked some tough questions. The toughest question was how to remain faithful to God when God seemed so far away? "Where then is my hope? Can anyone find any?" (Job 17:15).

God does not abandon people in crisis. But anger sets in following disaster, and people often abandon God because they lose hope. Is this how you feel? If you have ever placed your faith in Jesus Christ you have hope. "... we are now member of God's own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead" (I Peter 1:3).

Why is Jesus Christ the living hope? "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Because God loved us, He gave us His son as our hope of salvation. Yet, God experienced the greatest personal crisis ever when His son died for our sins. Why did Christ die?

"We are the ones who strayed away like sheep!
We, who left God's path to follow our own.
Yet God laid on Him (Jesus Christ) the guilt and sins of every one of us!"
(Isaiah 53:6).

Christ died because of our sins. Why is Christ's death important to you? Sin separates you from God. You cannot establish a relationship with God on your own. "Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal" (Romans 3:23). "Jesus told Him, 'I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me' " (John 14:6). Because Christ died for your sins, it is through Him that you come to God. To receive the hope of salvation you must receive Christ.

How do you receive this living hope? The most wonderful gift you will ever receive is absolutely free. "Because of his kindness you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it" (Ephesians 2:& 9).

How do you receive Christ? You receive Christ through prayer. What is prayer? Prayer is talking to God. Talk to God and make your commitment of faith in Christ. A prayer of confession and commitment helps you do several things God asks you to do:

ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE SINNED "But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong"(1 John 1:9).

TELL GOD THAT YOU BELIEVE CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners "(Romans 5:8).

INVITE CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and He with me" (Revelation 3:20).

MAKE A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO CHRIST "But if you are unwilling to obey the lord, then decide today whom you will obey. . . as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15).

Your prayer might be like this: Dear God, Please forgive me for the sin in my life. Thank you for Jesus who came to earth and died for my sins. I accept your free gift of grace and invite Jesus to come into my life. He is the hope of my salvation. From this day on, I will live for Christ. Amen.

Where do I go now? To grow in your commitment to Christ:

1. Talk to other Christians.
2. Find a church that will affirm your decision.
3. Tell the pastor about your decision.
4. Ask to be baptized.

When the apostle Paul led the Philippian jailer to make a commitment to Christ in Acts 16:30-34, they set an example for you. "That same hour he washed their stripes and he and all his family were baptized" (Acts 16:33). As you begin to grow in your new faith, be prepared to share with others the hope that you now have. "So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in His promises, we can have real peace with Him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." (Romans 5:1). Will you share your hope?