“Our marriage was made in heaven, but so was thunder and lightning.”heaven - by Web Design Hot

The tapestry on the pillow said it well.  Forever the funny man, it was a gift from my husband for our anniversary. Meant to be a joke, it still rang true.

Naively entering a business deal early in our marriage pushed us to the brink of bankruptcy. Dreams of becoming millionaires by age thirty were shattered and replaced with anxiety, stress and depression.

I wanted out; out of marriage, out of life. In fact I remember praying that I would have a mental breakdown, so I could escape the pressures of our circumstances. Instead, I had an encounter with God and I was saved.

I attended church all my life and would say that I believed in God. But it wasn’t until I realized I was a sinner in need of a savior that I came to know him in a personal way. It wasn’t until we had nothing that I gained everything. And it wasn’t until I surrendered, that I won the battle with depression and anxiety. Surrendering my life to the creator and sustainer of life was a game changer for me.

We’ve certainly experienced our share of storms in the thirty plus years of marriage. Wayward children, financial crisis, lifestyles altered by health issues, not to mention the everyday stresses that can wear on a marriage.

As I look back, I find one constant in all the stress, changes and heartaches; hope. Hope for emotional healing, hope for change in circumstances, hope for my future. Colossians 1:5 reminds us that hope is stored up for us in heaven.

When Jesus rose from the dead he went back to heaven to live. Ever wonder what he’s doing there? According to the Bible, he is praying for us.

“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

Imagine, the savior of the world prays for you.

So ask him to fill you with hope; for your circumstances, your emotional health and your future. Jesus gives hope that is secure – hope as an anchor for the storms of life. Hang onto Jesus and you hang onto hope. When you have hope, you can Hang Onto Possible Endings.

Even in the middle of thunder and lightning.

©2015 Cindy Richardson

Cindy Richardson began in women’s ministry twenty five years ago through her local MOPS group. She seeks to encourage, challenge, and inspire women in their journey of hope through Bible study, speaking and writing. Cindy weaves God’s truth and shares her faith with kindergartners at St. Joseph Christian School. Residing in St. Joseph, Missouri with her husband Tom, she enjoys the friendship of her three grown daughters and loves being Nana to six grandchildren. Visit richardson.cindy@outlook.com for more inspiration.

Photo Attribution: Web Design Hot