The old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” has always reminded me about hope. With all the rain we’ve been receiving lately it has me wondering if we can expect the flowers of May to bloom even more beautiful than normal this year.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

At times it feels like the showers of April can represent the many challenges we encounter in life – strangely enough, they never conveniently hit us only one month of the year.  These challenges could be health issues, financial struggles, relationship problems, stress at work or at school, tension within the family, or any number of other things. And while everyone is certain to go through some difficult times in life because no one is exempt from living “real life” – when you’re the one facing those “real life” issues, it’s easy to wonder what good can come from them.  

God’s Word reminds us that the difficulties of life can actually lead us to “hope.” Listen to the words of Paul in Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Did you notice the progression? First there are faith, peace and grace. Those are important to have when the problems of life come. Then Paul states that when suffering does come, it can produce perseverance, character, and finally hope. And it’s all made possible because of God’s love which is poured out on us.

We had plenty of showers in April (and most definitely over the past two years), so I invite each of us as we move through the seasons of our lives to pay closer attention for the hope-filled flowers in life that are certain to bloom in May and beyond. And if you are going through a difficult time right now, my hope is that you will continue to believe and trust in God’s promise that God is with you and desires to help you through it and ultimately fill your heart with hope!

Here is one of those “May flowers” I was talking about. Last week I received a thank you letter from the chairman of the Harvest of Hope Fund in response to the recent $2000 donation check we sent them – the result of YOUR generosity through BLAST collections, noisy offerings and an amazing matching donation. Hope filled signs of resurrection and God’s glory all around us.

“Thank you so much for your gift of $2000. I was having a very stressed week wondering if we were going to get through to the next milk check. It truly was a ray of hope.”

“Thank you for the generous gift we received. We appreciate the gift immensely. The funds will be used to pay our farm bills (vet bills, machinery repair, medical bills). We are truly thankful for this program and that it helps farm families. May God bless you and all your efforts.”

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who made it possible at Harvest of Hope to provide my family assistance during this trying and stressful time. The funds are very gratefully appreciated and will be put towards keeping our farm in operation. The generosity of others shows there is still good in the world. Hoping you, your committee and families are safe and healthy. Thank you again!”

Dear friends, as the seasons of our lives change, I pray that the April showers in your life will subside to reveal beautiful May flowers of hope and peace and joy immersed in God’s love throughout your life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Pastor Tony