Random things

On Monday as I was driving to work, God reminded me that I had to do the morning devotions this week. So there I was, half asleep, trying to come up with something profound. As I reflected on the last couple weeks, these things came into my mind:
I am becoming more forgetful with age; I actually email myself to remind me to do things at home or at work.
My dog is losing her hearing; we now have to touch her and use hand motions to let her know it is time to go out or head to bed.
My pastor's wife has had 2 family members killed on the same road within just a few years.
My garden is a losing battle this year, overrun with grass and other weeds. I just can't seem to keep up with it.
My washer has died.
My daughter's friend from church lost his battle with addiction in an overdose.
These things actually do have something in common: they are symptoms of the fallen nature of the creation. Romans 8:18-25 says"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now, and not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."
There is hope, when all seems bleak and bare. There is hope when the little things add up to a great burden. When all seems hopeless, when grief overwhelms us, when we wonder where He is, there is hope. We have peeked at the end of the story, and it is good.