A Flower of Hope

The air was cold and bitter as Taylor trudged up the mountain path. She was after a rare flower; this flower was the last hope of saving her village from a deadly illness.The flower only grew in the harsh northern mountains. Many had gone before Taylor and had returned with nothing but broken bones and crushed hopes. But unlike the others, Taylor was following God through the mountains. She prayed constantly for His help in her quest, and she listened for His leading.The wind picked up, and it began to snow. Taylor could hardly see the path before her. “Oh Lord,” she prayed in her heart, “please help me find this flower, and please save my people from death. In Jesus’s name I pray.” Taylor finished her prayer with the words of her Lord: “Your will, not mine, be done.” She remembered how He had prayed in the garden, knowing He was about to be executed. Jesus was willing to go to the cross because it was the only way to save His people from death. This was God’s will. But it was not the end. Three days later, God raised Jesus back to life—defeating death once and for all.The wind began to settle, the snow slowly started to let up. Taylor spotted a grass clearing ahead. She rushed toward it. In the center of the clearing, a single beam of sunlight shone on a pure white flower. Even the stems and leaves were white. The flower’s pollen was red. Taylor thought the pollen looked like the blood of Christ, the blood He shed for her sins, though He Himself was pure and sinless. Taylor knelt down. “Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for letting me find this Flower of Hope,” she said softly. Taylor took the flower and started back down the path. • Sarah Jordan• God is merciful. Though we all deserve death because of our sin, He came to forgive us and give us life. Jesus lived among us and healed countless people, revealing God’s heart to restore His creation. In love, Jesus died and rose again for us, to heal us from sin, death, and evil. One day He will return to fully heal the world of all the brokenness caused by sin. As we wait for that day, we get to be part of His ministry of healing—which points to the good news. We can pray for miracles, pray as we care for people who are sick, and pray as we search for ways to cure diseases and reduce suffering. How might God be inviting you to be part of His healing work today?Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ps.6|Luke.22.39-Luke.22.44|Acts.2.22-Acts.2.28|1Thess.5.17-1Thess.5.18|Matt.9.35