A letter written to me from a friend in Christ many years ago. May it encourage your heart, as it has mine. To GOD be the glory, forever and ever, amen. ~ Holly Sands
Dear Afflicted Saint,
Hope in this: That you are His and He is yours, both now and forevermore. Let your soul rejoice! Hope in He who is the vindicator of His Elect, the One who hears the cries of His children and answers, and the one who on the final day will repay the wicked for all their evil deeds.
Hope in this: That even on this earth, the Lord is mighty and has a strong hand to deliver His afflicted; however desperate the situation may appear, nothing is too difficult for the Lord. Hope in the sanctifying work He is doing in you, the tremendous fruit that He is harvesting in your life; the fruit of resignation to His will, sustenance in the midst of trial, and joy despite the worst conditions.
Hope in this: That Christ’s name is glorified in your sufferings; that His great power to sustain you is seen; that your meekness and gentleness in the midst of adverse circumstances is greatly glorifying to your Father who works righteousness, patience, and hope in His people. Hope also in the fact that Christ is with you all the more present in your trials – your every weak sigh, is to Him a precious sound; your every tear, He collects as if it were an expensive oil.
Hope in the reward to come: That all the sufferings of this present age are not worthy of the infinite glory that is to come in the future age! Hope in the joys of Christ that you will experience in this age, while He chooses to give the sweetest smiles and the most delightful embraces, when His people are afflicted.
Hope in His return: That life is but a breath, and soon you will return to Him, or He will come to take you with all His saints to heaven. The end is near and this should encourage you. The evil days under the sun shall end, and heaven will be yours. Only press on these evil nights, till the great glorious Sun arises!
Hope still, O afflicted one! Hope still in the Lord. Remember His benefits in days past, and the promises He has given, which are great in the future. Hope in your Beloved.