Hoping Again After Disappointment

 

My second graders eagerly watched as I placed 5 eggs on a mesh screen in the incubator in our classroom.

For the next 21 days, I turned the eggs so each side could receive warmth.  On weekends, I carried the large incubator down 2 flights of stairs to the parking lot where I would transport the “chicks” to my home so they could be turned twice a day throughout the weekend.

The process seemed like an eternity to my students, but they became increasingly excited as the 21st day approached.

However, on the 21st day, we saw no signs of life.

On the 22nd day, the students became anxious and asked many questions.

On the 23rd day, they were beginning to show signs of disappointment.

After giving the chicks ample time to hatch, I expressed my concern to the student’s mother who had donated the eggs to our classroom.  She said she would return to the farm where she had gotten the eggs and bring us another batch.

I was very hesitant to repeat this tedious process, but the parent returned with a fresh batch of eggs that she said (and I put this in her words) “had a father.”

I found it odd that speaking adult to adult, she didn’t just say, “I am certain this new batch of eggs is fertilized.” She was probably verbalizing how she felt we could best encourage young second graders to be expectant and hopeful while repeating the process after disappointment.

I was not overjoyed to learn that I had just spent 21 days putting so much care into unfertilized eggs, but realizing that these were, I agreed to try again. Based on the realization that these eggs “did have a father,” we went through the process again.

On the 21st day, as the students were entering the classroom, we heard a slight tapping sound, and then another, and another.  The class became very quiet as we listened and watched the amazing birth process of the chicks struggling to get out of their shells.

By the end of the day, we had a cute family of chicks in our incubator.  The look of awe on the children’s faces was priceless.  They will probably never forget that experience.  I, on the other hand, will always remember the reason I dared to hope again. I was reminded in an unforgettable way that——–

When there’s a “father” there’s hope … and christians have one …

That one fact made hope possible. Here’s another fact that makes hope possible. 

Christians have a heavenly Father. When things don’t seem to be working out, for the Christian, there is still hope.

WE HAVE A FATHER WHO WORKS THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.” – Romans 8:28 NKJV

When faced with humanly impossible situations, the Christian still has hope.

WE HAVE A FATHER FOR WHOM NOTHING IS TOO HARD.

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” – Luke 18:27 NKJV

When dealing with things that make us question God’s love for us, for the Christian, there is still hope.

WE HAVE A FATHER WHO HAS PROMISED THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

At the end of this life, for the Christian, there is still hope. 

WE HAVE A FATHER WHO HAS LIFE AFTER DEATH COVERED.

Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Jeremiah 17:7 says it well . . .

“…blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.” – Jeremiah 17:7 NLT

WHEN THERE’S A FATHER, THERE’S HOPE AND —-

When there’s a heavenly Father, there’s certain hope.

“So God has given both his promise and his oath. … it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” – Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT (Emphasis Mine)

 

 

 
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