February 16, 2025 - How to Experience Hope in Times of Despair - Pastor Paul Vallee

In 1951, Eberhard Bethge published ‘Letters and Papers from Prison,’ the correspondence Bonhoeffer wrote to the world outside of prison, where he was imprisoned for his part in the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler. One of the texts of Scripture that Bonhoeffer found solace and challenge came from Jeremiah 45. The struggle of Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah, his anguish and complaint, and God’s response by challenging and promising him safety in a perilous hour brought instruction and solace to Bonhoeffer. What happens when your future looks bleak and you struggle with discouragement? God promises to be with us in those dark and difficult seasons of life. When we feel our lives are at risk, fear can quickly begin to affect our thinking and emotions. In these times, we need to hear God’s words speaking into that context. What should our aim be in life when we don’t foresee better days ahead? Such is the case for Jeremiah’s recording secretary, Baruch.