Dear friends,

I wish so many blessings for those of you who take time to read this letter. I truly believe that there is a hope that is beyond all of the problems that surround us each day. I pray that each of you may know this hope in your life.

Have you ever felt like the world is standing against you? Ever felt like you didn't have a friend in the world who understood all of your problems? If you have, you're not alone. Throughout the Bible there are stories upon stories of people being abandoned and abused by those that they love. David was betrayed and persecuted by his very best friend. Job was abandoned and ridiculed by his own wife. The early Christians faced persecutions at every turn and were beaten and jailed for their faith. And the greatest example of all was Jesus who was abandoned in his greatest moment of need by those he loved the most.

How are we supposed to react to that? When you need a shoulder to lean on and none is there? Let's look at what each of these people did and said in their times of need.

David writes in Psalm 55:12-14, "Now, it is not an enemy who insults me -- otherwise I could bear it; it is not a foe who rises up against me -- otherwise I could hide from him. But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion and good friend! We used to have close fellowship." His best friend! In David's greatest time of need even his best friend was rising up against him. David could have been overwhelmed with loneliness and despair, and I'm sure he passed through those moments, but in the end, what was his response? In the very next Psalm, we hear his words, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records? Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me." Despite the trials, the pain and the tears, David understood that in the end, his strength and his rest came in God. Not man. Not his best friend. In the end, he saw that no one else could ever be more reliable than God, more caring than God or more just than God.

When Job was abandoned and ridiculed by his family and friends, he responded by saying, "But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last." (Job 19:25) Despite all around him, he knew where his feet were planted and where his hope was.

Paul said he had learned to be content in any circumstance (Philippians 4:11) and that we shouldn't worry about anything but with prayer and thankful petition we should make our requests known to God (Philippians 4:6). To the Thessalonians he writes, "do not repay evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Paul had many reasons to try and repay someone for the pain they had caused him and his fellow Christians but he consistently counseled his brothers and sisters to live in love, despite affliction.

Finally, our greatest example of how to endure persecution and abandonment is Jesus. He talked about future persecutions that Christians would face and stated that "the one who endures to the end will be delivered." (Mark 13:13) Jesus knew we would suffer for Him but he also knew that our purpose in this life was greater than the suffering we would face. He could have fought against his persecution with the power that was at his fingertips and yet he chose love. He chose forgiveness. He chose peace. He chose hope.

That is our choice today. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all that attacks us on a daily basis. The friend who abandons us in a time of need. The family member who persecutes us with their words. The co-worker who tries to ruin our name. The neighbor who mocks your faith. Or the spouse who lies and deceives you. These aren't easy things to face. They can make us feel like we are drowning without the hope of being saved.

But the truth is this -- we are not of this world. Our future is our hope, not our moment. Forgiving others and choosing to live in hope, despite what the world says and does, is what we are called to do. We may not feel we can do it on our own but God will lead others to you for support and encouragement if we just ask. None of us are perfect and we will have moments when we fail but PRAISE GOD there is forgiveness and hope in Jesus Christ. He is just and feels every pain in our heart. It doesn't make the pain and hurt and anger go away instantaneously, but it does give us a hope that one day, we will be healed and whole again, resting in God's arms.

During this Easter season, let's remember the hope that is given to each of us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

Kristy Engel

International Ministries, Dominican Republic Ministry