by Tim Hall

I recently received an e-mail with a very tough report: A preaching colleague had just learned he may have cancer. He's a fairly young man with a wife and children, but his future is suddenly not so clear. To make matters worse, the family has no health insurance; they just can't afford the premiums. What now?

Dr. Jerome Groopman is the author of the book, "The Anatomy of Hope". As one who deals with cancer patients, he knows the important role hope plays in people overwhelmed with trials. When asked to define "hope", he responded: "Basically, I think hope is the ability to see a path to the future" (U.S. News & World Report, January 26, 2004).

That's a metaphor that makes sense. Sometimes we find ourselves at a dead end with nowhere to turn. We see no options before us. Such a situation can lead to despair. It's a crushing feeling when we have no hope.

You know very well that Christians are not immune to life's problems. The fellow I mentioned above demonstrates that. But Christians have one thing that others don't: Faith in a God who promises to open for us a path.

He did it for Israel as they were fleeing Egypt. They had come to a dead end, the shores of the Red Sea. As they surveyed their situation, they heard hoofbeats behind them. Their hearts sank as they searched in vain for a pathway of escape. But God had not forgotten His people. He opened a path through the sea where there had been none before. Just a few hours later they were singing songs of victory. (Read Exodus 14 and 15 for the stirring account.)

Israel's almighty God is our God. He still has the power to open pathways. Paul wrote of that promise: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28, NASV). "All things" in this verse may include bad events, as well as good. But these do not represent dead ends, for God is always present to open up a path. We can't see that path to the future, but we know without any doubt that God is there.

When a person is convinced there is no hope, life becomes dark and miserable. Thanks be to God that we never have to reach such a conclusion!

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5, NKJV).