“I would like you to know we buried our late father yesterday and surely I preached and shared about the hope of glory, Jesus Christ.  My cousins, relatives and mourners were touched by the message.  Pastor Matt rest assured that however much the enemy does, I’m stable and firm to God’s vision and task.”

I am always blessed when I hear testimonies like this.  They inspire me.  I want to have an attitude like this – an attitude that says in the midst of even the most painful experiences, “I have hope.” 

I believe Christ wants to produce hope in us.  We just need to get “us” out of the way.  In order to become the people God intends for us to be, we must die to self.  I’m realizing as long as I’m in the way, not much good is going to come out of me, but with God I can expect the impossible.

The change in me isn’t going to come in the mourning over my problems, but with what God does in response to it.  Godly mourning brings God’s forgiveness, which brings God’s happiness, which is what I desire.  The Lord is with those whose hearts are close to His . . . and He’ll use even the most difficult moments to get us where we need to be.