With all the serious challenges that’s happening from the east coast to the west, without HOPE, it’s really hard to “see the light at the end of the tunnel,” so to speak. And one of the best books I’ve read in awhile, deals with just that. It’s written by one who endured years in a valley of physical and emotional pain. Sarah Young is the author of JESUS CALLING, and now JESUS TODAY. This second book is direct and easy to understand, encouraging in its message to believe in latching onto hope in order to get through difficult circumstances.

Every morning I watch the latest news covering the catastrophic fires in the Los Angeles area because I have a long-time acquaintances (former New Lima student) living in the area. Seeing daily videos of the destruction is hard for us to fathom.

Young said if she hadn’t gone through years of pain, she would not have written this book. She explains it as HOPE SHINES BRIGHT IN THE TRENCHES OF ADVERSITY.

She says the hope we can find in the Bible is a sturdy reality--no matter if it’s needed if we’re anxious about economic problems, natural catastrophes, unstable governments around the world, or nuclear and terrorists.

The worst-case scenario in life is that you would believe that God doesn’t love you. What you must understand is that He loves you as His creation. We can’t doANYTHING to earn His love. It is a pure gift that is for all who believe in Him and ask forgiveness when we weaken to sin--according to what His Word in the Bible says is sin.

I look upon our earth as a testing ground as to whether we go to heaven or hell after our journey is over here. God gave us a free will to choose whether to choose right or wrong, and He gives us clear guidelines as to what they are. Individuals, and even churches are doing something I wouldn’t have believed I’d be living in a day to witness it: deciding to dismiss some of thee guidelines as old-fashioned now. Why would they do this, knowing for 2,000 years the Book has led people to desire living healthy, treat people with love and kindness--no matter their circumstances, and to live to serve others as Jesus did, to make this a better place, for us and future generations.

Ever heard of the Jeffersonian bible? He cut out sections of the Bible that he didn’t like. Research it. He put himself on God’s level in thinking he had the sense to know what’s best for him. And now I keep learning how people are doing the same thing. They are putting themselves in a very dangerous situation as I see it.

In Psalm 73:24, David wrote that God will guide him with His counsel (not ours), and afterward receive him to (God’s) glory. Even though there is confusion and darkness in this world, Young reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and His followers will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.

David also writes that with his whole heart, he has sought You (God): ‘Oh let me not wander from Your commandments! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes,’ (Psalm 119: 10-12 NKJV).

So, to grasp hope in challenging times, we are encouraged by praying, seeking the Lord. David writes to...’let the wicked forsake his way and evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon (forgive)’ (Isaiah 55:6-9.

How do we guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus? Read Philippians 4:4-6. Everyone sins, but I have found many Scriptures in the New Testament that teaches us to ask for forgiveness to be set free from sin and strive to live our lives like Jesus did on earth. It’s a never-ending battle that the enemy (Satan) is after as many as he can lead to hell with him. I feel sorry for people who don’t have faith in God. Instead, they try to find happiness within themselves, in materialistic things, and ways of escaping from this life through drugs, alcohol, or the like. Why would ANYBODY not want the sheer joy that God and His Son Jesus offers us? I like hearing interviews of people who survived the fires, saying that things are just things, but life is the most important, thank God. They are saying they are coming together to help each other and are thankful for all the people who are still risking their lives to keep fighting the fires and those who are giving to help them with basic needs. It sounds like they are gaining hope for recovery. It’s what keeps us going, no matter the situation. (All Scripture, paraphrased or not, is taken from the New King James Version.)