Hope

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.  Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.  God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. – Hebrews 6:16-20

Bad things are going to happen in this life.  That’s just the way it is.  There’s no way around them.  You can’t close your eyes and pretend they don’t happen, and there’s no pretending that being a Christian helps you go unscathed through this existence.

However…

The weight of serious tragedy and trial can be endured and in some cases lifted all together by the hope of the Gospel at work in our lives.  Sometimes life will sink us, or drown us, or toss us upon against the rocks in some unfair storm; but there is always a light to shine through the night; there is always an anchor of hope that holds us when we can’t hold on ourselves.