MANILA, Philippines - Last Sunday, after one of our worship celebrations, a member of our church said, “Pastor, I like your prayer. It inspired me to have hope. Indeed, hope is what we need. If hope is gone, everything will follow. Thank you. Now, we can put our hope in God, the Lord Almighty.”
Those words gave me the inspiration to teach the whole day, knowing that there are many among those who came to seek God that day who are in the brink of losing hope. Many are asking, “Is there an end to all my struggles?” Since people share with me their prayer requests, I’m aware of the various troubles, trials, testing and tribulations each face. There are times I feel so overwhelmed and helpless. But God reminds me, “I will be responsible for them. Help them to know me a little better and deeper. I will demonstrate the full extent of my love for them.”
The writer of the book of Hebrews declare, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3), The more we get to know Jesus Christ and what He did for us, the more we can have hope in this life.
Today, as we recall the first Resurrection Sunday, the day the angels declared, “He is not here. He is risen,” may our hearts be filled with renewed hope. If your struggle is with guilt and sin, Jesus paid all of it. Believe that His shed blood is enough to cleanse you from all your sins. The angel declares, “You will give him the name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” If your struggle is about a “sin-confess cycle,” Jesus’ resurrection gives us the power over sin and Satan. Jesus did not only pay for your sins but He also gives you the power to say “No!” to sin and all temptations hurled to us by Satan.
The power of the Holy Spirit is made available so we may live the life of an overcomer. If your struggle is with suffering and pain, rely on the sufficient grace of our Lord Jesus and go through it with the thought of “being in fellowship with His sufferings”. Our battle against the fear of death is won knowing that Jesus was victorious over death. The tomb is empty. He is risen. Even if death overtakes us, we recognize the truth that it will only usher us to a place Jesus has prepared for us in heaven.
If you are asking, “Is there an end to all my struggles?”, the answer is YES — “a life totally surrendered to Christ can take all of what life offers and at the same time truly experience the abundant life (John 10:10).”(Rev. Roasa is pastor of Gospel Church of Manila in Binondo and former chairman of Purpose Driven Southeast Asia.)