The Shore is Closer Than You Think

Life throws a lot our way, doesn't it?  And yet, you can survive an awful lot if you have hope. But take that hope away—I mean, really take it away—and you stop moving. Stop trying. Stop caring. Hope isn't just a nice-to-have. It's oxygen. In 1952, Florence Chadwick tried to swim the 26 miles from the California coast to Catalina Island. Partway through, a thick fog set in. She couldn't see the shoreline. After 15 hours, exhausted and disoriented, she gave up—only to discover that she was less than a mile from the finish. Later, she said, "I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it." I don't think any of us doubts that. Her problem wasn't a lack of endurance. Her problem was that she'd lost hope. 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from death. This isn't "cross your fingers" hope. This is living hope—anchored in something already accomplished: Jesus rose from the dead. And that … that changes everything. It means that no matter how deep the fog gets, the shore is real. The finish line is there. You're not imagining it. You're not just surviving. You're headed somewhere. And that kind of hope isn't just for dying—it's for living. It gives you courage to love again, to fight again, to believe again. You can keep going. Because Jesus lives, so does your hope. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.