Hope Restored
May 01, 2010
Bob and Sue* lost contact with their father early in their young lives when their parents divorced. Ten years later, they lost their mother to drugs, and ultimately jail, when she was arrested for a serious drug charge.
They arrived at the Children’s Homes, having lost all they had known – their home, family, friends, school teachers and classmates.
Initially angry, defiant and depressed, Sue began asking Beth*, her foster mother, questions about God, Jesus and what it meant to be a Christian. She listened as Beth explained about Jesus’ love and forgiveness. For the first time, Sue began to sense hope. Although she was excited, she was also scared. Would this be just another loss for her? Would this promise of hope rekindled only end in despair? Through Beth’s encouragement, Sue found the strength to risk giving her life to Christ. They prayed together for forgiveness and for Sue to accept Jesus as her Savior.
Sue’s entire world changed. Everyone around her saw the positive impact that becoming a Christian had on Sue.
She was determined to take the same strength and stubbornness that had characterized her life and put it to good use. Her foster mother helped her memorize Paul’s verse:“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Once prone to being in trouble at school, Sue became a “model” student. The assistant principal, who had been a part of so many discipline reports, told Beth he had seen such a positive change in Sue.
Sue’s decision to trust in Jesus and the positive change that brought was noticed by one who knew her better than anyone else. Her brother was so impacted by her change that he, too, wanted to know how to become a Christian.
As a high school senior, Bob was facing more loss and challenges. But he knew he could face whatever the future held with his new-found faith and favorite Bible passage:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
It was a wonderful day when these two young people were baptized at their church. For the first time in their lives, they knew what unconditional love felt like. They became living testimonies of how God can take lives filled with despair and loss and fill them with hope and a future.
*Names changed to protect the children’s privacy.