Did you ever go through a time when you felt you had no hope? I did a few years ago. When the Great Recession came at Concordia Seminary, came at us with deficits like Hurricane Katrina came with wind and water, weathering the storm meant draconian cuts in the Seminary's budget, almost 25%. Again and again and again I prayed Psalm 25: "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day." (Psalm 25:4-5) After I had shared that terrible time in a speech, a pastor came up, misty eyed, and said he had gone through his own such time. I suspect you've had such times yourself, maybe going through one right now. You feel no hope, nothing, nichts, nada.
Sunday many churches will observe Transfiguration, remembering the time Jesus gave Peter, James and John a mountaintop experience (Luke 9:28-36). The disciples wanted to prolong the glorious experience, the same way you and I would be quite pleased to have heaven on earth. But no, the glory disappeared and Jesus led His disciples down the mountain into controversy, conflict and crucifixion in order to bring God's goodness into a world of sin and hurt. As those terrible times engulfed the disciples, they too must have felt there was no hope. Jesus saw beyond beyond their despair, saw His resurrection and glory to come. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). There is hope; sometimes we just don't feel it. God has foreseen our your plight. That's why the voice from the cloud on the mount of Transfiguration says, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"
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