21 Days of hope

          "DO NOT BECOME DESPONDENT." The words rung loud in my mind as I was grappling with the grief that swiftly followed an unexpected tragedy. That voice was the Holy Spirit - The Counselor himself. He spoke to me, giving a father's warning. "Do not become despondent."

          I tell people that I have grieved wrong and I have grieved right. Just as money is a master, so is grief. It is powerful and it would like to master you. So when I say I've grieved wrong what I mean is I let grief start calling the shots of my life. When I encountered the terrible master again I had become a little wiser. This time I would be calling the shots. This time I would not let it drag me into despondency. (a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage.) This time I had someone to give me words of wisdom to put parameters around grieving. 

          So why don't we grieve however the heck we want to? Well, because of hope! That's right! Hope! If you call yourself a Christian then you always have hope. You are never without hope. You might feel like you are out of hope but the reality for you is that there is ALWAYS good from God up ahead. Grief doesn't want you to know that. It wants you to cave, give in, let go and give up. No! Not this time, Grief. This time we are the wiser. This time we hope!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV