HOPE AND HEALTH

 

HOPE AND HEALTH

 

O my soul . . . hope in God . . . the health of my countenance . . .
(Ps. 42:11 KJV).

 

I read of a man who had suffered many illnesses and endured many troubles, but lived to be eighty-nine. Even then, he didn't die of old age, but was killed in an automobile accident. After performing an autopsy, the doctor said to the man's wife, "Your husband must have been an amazing man. I found enough evidence in his body to indicate that he should have died twenty years ago from one illness or another. How did he live so long against the odds?"

 

"My husband had great faith in God," the wife replied. "And every morning I remember him saying to me, no matter what difficulty lay before us, no matter how hard the times were, 'Honey, don't let anything worry you. I have hope. I have hope.'"

 

Here was a man who lived possibly twenty years longer than he should have because he had faith in God — and he had hope. When people lose the ability to hope, they lose their desire for living. Despair and despondency overwhelm many people, who then try to drown their hopelessness in drink or drugs. Some even take their own lives.

 

Cling to hope in the midst of trouble and you will yet praise Him who is the health of your countenance.

 

Life response: "Lord, help me to hope in You and not be consumed by earthly concerns."