When There's no Hope

Christian Testimonies

When There's no Hope
Pastor Sherm Stevens

My friend, are you without hope today? Please take a moment and read this short message.

You see, my friend, I know what it is to have no hope. I know what it is to lose those who you hold dear in this life.

It was June 29, 1969. I was a Pastor of a church in Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire. As I was reading the Bible, the 74th verse of the 119th Psalm was dramatically impressed on my mind. "Those that fear Thee will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in Thy Word." I read it over and over again. It was indelibly impressed in my heart.

After a busy Saturday, I arrived home about 11:30 at night. The older children had just come from Youth Group, the young children were already asleep. As I went upstairs to bed, I said good night to my wife, Millie, and to Vicki and Bonny, who were in the bathroom preparing for the Sunday schedule.

About four a.m. we were jolted from sleep by an explosion that rocked the foundation of our farm house. As we opened our bedroom door we were faced with a roaring inferno. It was impossible to reach little Hope, who was just outside our bedroom door. Millie snatched Grace from the crib in our room and we went up the old stairs that led to the attic. We passed through a small opening over the fire and found our way to the back stairs. The door at the foot of the stairs opened toward us and was locked from the other side. We were hopelessly trapped.

Kevin, our sixteen year old son, had already led Peter, Carl, Andy, Tim, Faith, and Jesse outside the burning building. Above the roar of the fire, he somehow heard our cry. Leaving Peter in charge of those on the lawn, he made his fourth trip into the raging inferno, unlocked the door and led us to safety.

Immediately, we began to count the children. Mike, the oldest, was away for the night. That left twelve at home. Only eight were accounted for: Vicki, Bonny, Debbie and Hope were still inside the house.

A ladder from the barn was used to try and enter the girl's window on the second floor. The heat and smoke drove us back again and again. Soon the fire department arrived and began rescue operations. The great intensity of the fire made it impossible to save the lives of our girls.

It is my honest prayer that you will never stand beside a burning building with the realization that members of your family have left this life for the life hereafter. It is my hope that you never have to watch as everything you own goes up in flames. Believe me, it is the most hopeless feeling that you can ever experience.

Supernaturally, the words of Psalm 119:74 came back to me. God in His grace had already prepared my heart for the most hopeless situation I would ever experience.

2 Corinthians 5:14 says, "The love of Christ constrains us." One expanded version says, "The love of Christ holds us together." While those around us fell apart, the love of Christ held this family together. Our hearts were flooded with a peace that the world cannot understand. God helped us through this trial with His love and strength. Maybe you are faced with the most hopeless situation of your life. Come to God, trusting Him, and He will help you come through it. Jesus Himself said, "Come unto Me all ye that are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Four of our girls went home to heaven that Sunday morning. One of the girls was named Hope. We still had two other girls named Faith and Grace. Ephesians 2:8 says, "By grace are you saved through faith." Oh friend, if you have faith and grace, hope will come again.

God loves you with an everlasting love and desires to spend all eternity with you in glory. Today He invites you into that REST, into that PEACE, and into that HOPE. Will you in faith accept that free gift? To make this decision today will restore HOPE in this life and insure heaven in life hereafter.

Will you pray this prayer in faith right now?

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe You died on the cross for me. Today I accept You as my Savior, the best I know how. I desire to know Your will for my life. Thank You for Your grace and forgiveness.

I appreciate the privilege of sharing our story with you. My friend, I may never meet you in this life, but if you will accept this message, I will meet you in God's glorious heaven.

Pastor Sherman A. Stevens

Pastor Sherm and Millie are missionaries in Russia. All of their children have accepted Christ as their Savior, and many of them are following God in full-time service.

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