As we see images and hear reports of the tragic loss of lives in the Philippines, towns and cities ripped apart and devastated by the typhoon Haiyan, our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors and people of the Philippians. So many people are trying to stay alive with what little is left. The international community has responded quickly but with the landscape of Haiyan's path crushed, everything imaginable has to be shipped or airlifted to the location to provide life sustaining water, food and shelter. Any recovery of this magnitude takes a very long time, long after the media coverage, as we have seen the recovery effort by Japan from the tsunami in Fukushima prefecture two years ago. The scars left behind may even take a lifetime if there is any recovery at all for the survivors who lost loved ones. It's tragic and may even feel hopeless.

The people of Israel were devastated too. They were taken hostage, defeated, exiled and lost loved ones from violence unimaginable. After this Babylonian exile, the survivors returned to rebuild their shattered lives and the Temple in Jerusalem. In our reading for this coming Sunday, prophet Isaiah cries out, "I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind, but be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating...No more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress." The prophet cries out, "There is Hope!" Don't give up for God is creating something new! There is good news!

The challenge for us today is when we see so much brokenness in our world and tragic loss of lives from violence by nature or human cause, how can we respond to the question, where is hope? When we experience hopeless situations, where can we draw our strength and hope for tomorrow? Is there hope for victims of Haiyan? Is there hope for you in whatever situation or challenge you may face? What is this prophetic hope which Isaiah speaks of and has vision for in our reading? What is God doing in creating hope for our future? Am I part of the new creation of hope? Please join me this Sunday, the message of hope is something you don't want to miss!

Pastor Dae