Upheld in Remembering and Resurrection

I thought it was dead!

So I cut the rose all the way down to the ground. It was the newest rose in the garden last year and I was sure it didn’t make it through the winter.

Then suddenly – I saw a small sprout. What was dead is now alive!

Recently, we remembered loved ones  over  Memorial weekend. Probably many of us put flowers on graves. Others of us took the opportunity to visit beloved family members—making the most of the time that we have to be together.  Making memories that will sustain us over the years as time passes and as we pass, too.

Remembering

Sometimes it seems that nothing is going right for us. On the surface, things look—well—dead. We don’t know what happened. Circumstances aren’t working for us. Maybe we are going through a health issue. Or a job change. We may be remembering those love ones who have gone before us. We miss them.  We also remember a risen Savior who died for us, to clear us of sin and make us presentable to God in Heaven – and will return for us again one day – maybe soon. 

Hope

A rose that was dead and suddenly shows up! A great symbol of hope. We may not see what is being done in our inmost hearts, or our circumstances. But hope truly is eternal. As long as there is hope, there is life. And Jesus promised us abundance of life. I will be watching this rose grow up this summer.

 

Don’t give up

And then, there were two sprouts! Yes! As long as there is life, never give up! Work on forgiving. Tell that someone you forgive them. Ask that someone else to forgive you. Restore relationships. Don’t give up!

When life seems to be going south, don’t give up! Seek God for the next path. I always remember that speech by great British statesman, Winston Churchill, after WWII when bombs sought to destroy his country: “Never give up! Never give up!

Never, never, never give up!”

 

God is faithful

The biggest lesson from this rose, I think, is that God is faithful. If we remember nothing else—then remember that God will always be on our side. He promises to be with us through everything.  He says He will never leave us nor forsake us. He goes before us, He is by our sides, He has our backs. When things are bad, He is there.  We can count on Him.

The rose has buds on it. Not just leaves, but these are flower buds.  I am amazed. God is good.

 

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” Hebrews 6:19a. 

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13: 5b,6.