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I'd like to share with you a scripture that gives me hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope.

These are nice, comforting words from God, and I'm sure that we all believe that--as long as things are going well for us.

In the difficult times, we may at times begin to doubt.

Yet God spoke these words to the people of Israel in a time of great trial.

These words were part of a letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent to the elders and people that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away in exile from Jerusalem to Babylon in 597 B.C.

These were not happy times for the people.

They had lost their homes, their temple, their king and their freedom.   They were driven away to a foreign land.

Let's try to picture ourselves in their situation.  

If this happened to us, we would consider it a great trial.

Yet, even in exile in Babylon, God told them to

* Build houses and live in them

* Plant gardens and eat what they produce

* Take wives and have sons and daughters

* Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

* Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf

* For in its welfare you will find your welfare.

* Do not listen to false prophets.

Are you lonely? God has plans to give you a future and a hope.

Are you or loved ones in poor health? God has plans to give you a future and a hope.

Are you struggling to make ends meet? God has plans to give you a future and a hope

Are you being mistreated by family, friends or work associates: God has plans to give you a future and a hope

Are you unemployed or underemployed: God has plans to give you a future and a hope

In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat.

A great windstorm arose and the waves began to swamp the boat, yet Jesus was asleep in the stern.

From our viewpoint the disciples were understandably terrified.

They woke Jesus up and said: "Teacher, don't you care that we are dying?"

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace be still."

He then said to his disciples: "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"

I think all of us would have reacted the same way the disciples did.

Yet, if we look in verse 35, we can get a glimpse of why Jesus said they lacked faith.

He told them in verse 35: "Let us go across to the other side."

This is a commitment from Jesus to get them safely to the other side.

Jesus will also get us safely to the other side.

He will not leave us nor forsake us. He who began a good work in us will see us through to the fullness of the kingdom.

Yet, even in this life, I think that Jesus cries when we cry.

Over and over again in the Gospels he showed compassion and comforted and healed the sick

He didn't just say, don't worry about it, you'll be OK in the kingdom.

My desire today is to give all of us words of comfort and hope.

There are no easy answers to the problems we face.

Yet, we have a God who is deeply concerned about the trials we face.

I don't think he is a God who inflicts us with trials. I believe he is a compassionate God who cries when we cry and bears our burdens when we suffer.

God sometimes intervenes and solves our problems, and sometimes he does not.

I don't know why he does in some instances and not in others.

Our lives are but as a vapor. We don't get more than about 70, 80 or 90 years.

We don't carry our problems into the next life. We leave sickness, injury, death, financial problems, loneliness--all of our problems at the grave. Death is the great equalizer.

In Hebrews 11:35, after describing the great miracles God performed in the lives of the faithful, it says that others, who also were faithful, were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.

IS YOUR HUT BURNING?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few

possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he   arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling

up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"God how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.   It had come to

rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy   to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it:

You say: "It's impossible."

God says: All things are possible Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired."

God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

You say: "Nobody really loves me."

God says: I love you John 3:16 & John 13:34).

You say: "I can't go on."

God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15).

You say: "I can't figure things out."

God says: I will direct your steps Proverbs 3:5-6).

You say: "I can't do it."

God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

You say: "I'm not able."

God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it."

God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28).

You say: "I can't forgive myself."

God says: I forgive you (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage."

God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19).

You say: "I'm afraid."

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear(2 Timothy 1:7).

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated."

God says: Cast all your cares on me (1 Peter 5:7).

You say: "I don't have enough faith."

God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

You say: "I'm not smart enough."

God says: I give you wisdom (1 Corinthians   1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone."

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you

(Hebrews 13:5).