The Journey of Hope

Who could have known 2020 would be defined by a global pandemic, causing us to rethink everything we thought we knew?

All of us are affected in different ways by the pandemic. Some slightly, others drastically. Whether we admit it or not, it’s changed our lives and nothing will ever be the same. And we’re anxious about it.

An article in Time magazine, states, “It’s too early in the coronavirus plague to know the exact extent to which anxiety disorders are on the rise, mostly because the clinical cases are lost in the much louder noise of the global panic. But anecdotally, at least, doctors are reporting both new anxieties among existing patients, and relapses among former ones.”

Now more than ever we need hope. My brother-in-law, Bruce Martin, is offering a special Journey of Hope package that I believe will help many find their hope in Christ. The package includes the following:

• A copy of the book, Desperate For Hope, personally signed and shipped anywhere in the United States. 
• A 30-minute video of the powerful message “The Scars of Hope” he gave at the Speak Up Conference last year.  He has shared this message of hope at churches, conferences, and women’s retreats and seen God work in profound ways to heal people from years of bondage to pain from their past.
• A PDF of the “Scars of Hope” slide presentation and notes for you to follow during the video.
• An invitation to a “Journey of Hope”  Facebook Page where you can interact with him personally and ask your questions.
• A 30-minute video counseling session with him: for you, a member of your family, a co-worker, or a friend.
• 28 Days of “The Journey of Hope” video series beginning on Monday, May 4th. (This will be made available to the general public as well)

Visit his website to find out more information about the package and how you can start your journey of hope.

I wrote a book review of Bruce’s book several years ago and share it again below. It’s a powerful story that points to the One who promises to never leave us.

Desperate for Hope by Bruce W. Martin is beautiful. It’s the honest story of how he learned to trust God during terrible pain and hardship. Bruce is my brother-in-law and though I remember his and my sister’s perfect storm, the book reveals some of the deep emotions that can’t be spoken or explained in the midst of suffering. We benefit from his trials because Bruce puts into words the pain and questions, and shares his struggle as he learned to grieve and hope. He reminds us that God is not the “Great Protector from Bad Things.”  In fact, “God is more intent on perfecting us through trouble than on protecting us from trouble.”  p. 21

Bruce tells the ancient story of Job in a fresh, relevant way to challenge us to rethink what we believe about suffering. The heavy topic is easy to read because of Bruce’s conversational style and just right humor. The book made me laugh, cry, and reflect on my own trials. It made me ask this question:  “Do I love God or do I love that He makes everything okay in my life?”  Hard question, but one I think all of us have to ask.

This book has an important message that we all need to hear. No matter what happens, God loves us, God delights in us, and He is for us.

I believe this book is going to give a lot of people permission to finally be honest with God and those around them. They will finally be free to say LIFE SUCKS sometimes! But deep change happens during deep suffering.  God wants our souls to prosper so He makes us desperate.

“But there is a nobler desire that transcends our desire for circumstantial happiness. And this desire is only birthed through suffering. It’s the desire for God. Not the desire for God to take care of me. Not the desire for God to fix it. Not the desire for what God does at all. The desire for HIM.” page 131

I finished the book with a renewed sense of hope and trust in the One that loves me the most.

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash