Have Hope

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Not Alone

Gò0dNews forEveryone

Have Hope

by Melissa Baskin

Iwas enjoying time with my daughters when my husband came into the room and said, “Come here. I need to talk to you.” Instantly, I knew something was wrong. “Your dad is spitting up blood clots, and your mom is taking him to the emergency room (ER),” he said. Uncertainty, fear, and anxiety gripped me. Because my dad takes blood thinners due to a heart condition, I imagined the worst. But my fear was compounded because this was during the height of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Donning masks and gloves, my mom, dad, and I headed to the ER. An ER nurse suited in protective gear met us at the door and took my dad’s vitals and information. Then, the nurse said something that I will never forget. “Say your goodbyes because no one is allowed to go in with the patient.” My parents embraced each other and cried. In that moment, the magnitude of the COVID-19 health crisis hit me like a ton of bricks. The word “goodbye” sounded so final. Like many, I had read stories of people dying alone in hospitals because family was not allowed to be by their sides. Would this be the case for my dad?

As my mom and I waited in the car, consumed by fear and worry for my dad, a familiar verse of Scripture calmed my fear. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…for the Lord your God is with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

We called friends and family to pray and also posted a prayer request via Facebook. Within minutes, over 100 people were praying. The comfort of fellow believers’ prayers and the knowledge that God would never leave us gave me hope in a frightening situation.

After an hour had passed, my dad called and said he was ready to go home. I was shocked; most people don’t 30 // July 2020

get out of the ER in an hour. “It’s my tooth,” said Dad. “Your tooth!” exclaimed Mom. Apparently, my dad had a back tooth that was surrounded by blood clots! The ER doctor was shocked, too, thinking my dad would need multiple tests. Mom didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; she did both.

As we praised God for my dad’s diagnosis, I couldn’t help but think about people in hospitals who are alone, scared, and might not get such good news. During this time of our “new normal,” please pray for those affected by COVID-19. Pray for the patients, their families, and the medical teams. It’s important to minister to those in need and remind them that God will never leave us or forsake us. In John 16:33, Jesus said we would face trials but that He had overcome the world. Even in our time of trial, we can be encouraged that our ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ.

About The Author Melissa Baskin is an assistant professor of Communication Studies at Shorter University, Rome, Georgia.

Gò0dNews for Couples

Your Home—The Sand Or The Rock?

by Jimmy Bryant

It was 50 years ago when we met Lee and Judith. The Lord had called me to preach, and we moved back to my hometown to enroll in the local junior college. We bought a house just a few houses down from them.

Lee and Judith had just lost their only child, a little boy. They said it was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As you can imagine, they were still grieving. Neither of them had ever trusted Christ as Savior. They occasionally attended the church we joined. The pastor and other members of the congregation witnessed to them time and time again, all to no avail. They were living with a certain kind of bitterness that words could not touch. However, what men could not do, God did. In time, they both came under deep conviction and accepted Christ as their Savior. They became one of the happiest, loving couples in the church. The bitterness was gone because it was replaced with heavenly joy. Instead of being angry with God, they began to understand that one day, they would see their little boy again.

Couples go through all kinds of hurt, disappointment, and anger. Sometimes it is how the finances are handled, or a lack of communication, or even becoming too familiar with someone from the opposite sex. But it is always there like an elephant in the room. And it will always be there until things are made right. Things will never be right until Christ, instead of the problem, is the center of the home. Oh, you may already be a Christian. But Christ is not preeminent in the lives of one or both. You see, a home that is built upon the sand cannot stand the storms of life. However, the home that is built upon the rock will withstand any storm that may arise.

Now, I have a question for you. What is your home built upon? The shifting sands of troubles or the solid foundation of the Rock? As long as the problem or problems are the elephants in the room, there will never be the love, peace, and joy that a couple should have. However, when Christ is the center of the home, that home will be the epitome of happiness. Yes, there will always be problems, but when those problems are committed to the Prince of Peace, He will give you the wisdom, compassion, and insight to handle those problems in a godly way. I do not know what kind of stress you are living under, but there is one who does: He

is one who sticks closer than a brother. His desire for you is to find Christ as Savior if you have not already done so. If you have, His desire is for you to live like it. When He is the center of your life and your home, the church will become a vital part of your life. Why not show up to church this Sunday? It will thrill the church and bring peace and joy to your life and your home. And when you leave the church, leave those fears and frustrations at the foot of the cross.

About The Author Jimmy Bryant and his wife of almost 60 years reside in Summerville, GA. He is interim pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the Gore Community. He has authored a book, “Confessions of a Baptist Minister,” available at Amazon.com.