From Grief to Hope

Shortly after uploading my post on deep grief, this message by one of my Facebook friends catches my eye, “We are a people of hope. We must not give in to despair.”

I scroll down and another post talks to me, “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” Augustine

Further down, “Hope is being able to see the light despite all the darkness.” Desmond Tutu

Just below it, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

What else would make me single out these posts but grace? They leap out of the page to make me reflect on why I have been grieving the way I do. Now, as I am plucked out of the black hole, I begin to see light.

I grab my Bible and turn to the verse I often heard from the children with whom I have had the privilege of conversing at Compassion Philippines. It’s a verse I have highlighted many times over: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Indeed, tomorrow is promising. The Lord may even surprise us with His second coming, but between now and then, hope should “spring eternal.”

We leave our deep grief at His feet and from the black hole, the seed of hope takes root and sprouts.