Facing Life

A voice crying in the wilderness; it is always crying there-the voice of hope. Other voices cry there; the voices of doubt, fear, despair. But if we listen to these voices, we shall never find our way out of the wilderness. If we listen only to the minor chords of life, the world will seem nothing but a desert of gloom and darkness.

There is no need of denying that this world has a wilderness aspect. It would be a superficial optimism that failed to recognize this fact. In every direction we look, the facts of evil, suffering and sorrow are too tragically impressed upon us to be blinked at. And yet through all this wilderness of human woes we hear a voice crying, the voice of hope. Let us not be deaf to this voice. There is much evil in the world; but good exists too, and good will overcome evil at last, because God lives and reigns. While there are many blots and shadows on the world, yet it is God's world; and we have His promise that ultimately "the wilderness shall be made to blossom like a rose."

In our individual lives we often find ourselves in wilderness-like circumstances. Life's journey takes us through many wildernesses; sometimes it is a reverse of fortune; sometimes it is a sore disappointment over frustrated plans; sometimes it is sickness; sometimes it is "the valley and shadow of death" where the heart is rent with grief and sorrow. But we never come into any wilderness, be it ever so bleak and desolate, but that we hear a voice crying unto us bidding us to be of good cheer and good hope, assuring us of a brighter sun and a brighter day ahead. If only we will heed it, there is always a voice crying in the wilderness, saying, "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning."

We plead not for that foolish optimism that shuts its eyes to facts. Whether as to the world or our individual lives, we admit the wilderness. But beyond the wilderness lies the Canaan of promise and hope. Paint life's clouds in blackest colors if you will; but across the blackest cloud that ever overshadows a human life shines the rainbow of God's love and covenant of promise. Therefore, in spite of the dreary aspects of our lives and the world about us, let us be hopeful always.