Pandora's Missed Hope

By Nancy Turley

 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

                                                                                                         Hebrews 6:19

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle,

You have recorded each one in your book.

                                                                         Psalms 56:8

For I know the plans that I have for you...to give you a future and a hope.
                                                                                                                               Jeremiah 29:11


Recently I learned something that had escaped me in my education in mythology. Did you know that after all the evil elements of the world flew out of Pandora’s “box” that what was left in the box was Hope?

In this myth, Pandora, the first woman in Greek mythology, had many qualities, but the one we associate most with her is her curious nature. Though she was instructed not to open the box given to her, the desire to know more needed to be satisfied.

Apparently many versions of this myth have appeared through the years, but in some versions, Hope did come out. So often we use this expression, “it’s like opening Pandora’s box” in the hesitancy to investigate something we may need to because we are afraid of what we might find out. Or more so, we have started to investigate, and we find even more problems and what we perceive as negative answers.  Regardless of the hard realities of life that really are present, the beauty of God is that He offers us hope when we are at the bottom.

Could it be that we also are shutting the box too quickly on hope that would come forth after we are brave enough to keep searching? Or, that we at least find a “twist” to the end of story that allows hope to keep us anchored?

I have too often opened my own "box" of tarnished thoughts, and thus, because I dwelled on them, fear took root and hope was squelched. I ponder my own yet unanswered prayers or my lack of grasp on the “whys” of life, and the thoughts that so spin off with a negative twist—when I need to grasp on to the hope that is my anchor at the bottom of God’s box."

How different it might have been if the story of Pandora ended something like: "But Pandora endured and found HOPE in the end." We might then think of the positive inference of Pandora opening her box. and associate it with hope for the future. I hold on to my life verse that has so encouraged me over and over in Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans that I have for you...to give you a future and a hope." God has proven his faithfulness to this verse very specifically for me over and over. I still wonder about my future--about my "golden years" to come...but I trust even then He has a plan for good while I am yet living.

In my research I learned that Pandora's box was actually a jar.  I found this intriguing because God keeps a jar for us that He designed to bottle our tears. Our Creator is a God who feels with us those stings of heartaches and cares with such a depth of love, that He created us with a physical ability to cry and then he saves those tears. And it says in Psalms, He records them in his book. Our God is a journaler for us!

My thoughts go to a dear friend who is mourning the loss of her husband way too early. I ponder the verse that says,
"Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
When will her morning of joy come? I can't project or know, but I know that her tears, collected in God's jar, are stored in a place of love. And I know that in her grief, her anchor of hope in the Lord is firm and secure.

To Obey

“But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or  your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, 

and submission is better than offering the 

fat of rams,"  1 Samuel 15:22

Life as a parent is always exciting - and not always in a good way. I am a “Book Mom” - I read the parenting books and articles and I love the virtues of a schedule. However, I learned within 2 weeks of being a first-time mom - the schedule lasts for about 2 days and then it changes. It adjusts. It’s in a constant state of being tweaked.

Looking back, I now see how God was preparing for me life as a Hospital Mom. Having a child with chronic health problems means that no two weeks are the same - rarely two days! You live with a hospital bag packed. You keep medical records in a folder you can grab on the way out the door in the middle of the night. In the winter, you keep sidewalks plowed to leave in snow storms and the gas tank rarely goes below half a tank.

And somewhere along the road, you even begin to the embrace the chaos. You learn to laugh at odd things. One night, driving into the emergency room, my daughter and I were making up sayings for t-shirts like - “Ask me one more time on a Scale of 1-10…  then we will see what your pain level is!”

There are seasons of peace and then meds changes, bodies change and things get complicated again.

On January 14, 2016, I wrote, “almost half-way through the month. Almost. We were at Day 14 before we went to an emergency room.  It's been 9 months since our last ER vsisit.” That night, we visited two ERs before receiving treatment - the first one was full and her care would have been delayed so long that the likelihood of her being admitted for pain management increased with each 10 minutes. It was frustrating, to say the least. For both of us.

The next day, I received the following reply to my social media post about the night’s events.

“I have to tell you a story... about how God worked a few nights ago. I had to take my little Tyler to Animas Surgical Hospital because he wasn't feeling well. We waited forever to get seen. Never has that happen before there. Then when we were in our room I just kept getting a feeling that I needed to pray for someone across the hall. God just wouldn't let it go.  I have been so far away from him over the last couple of years... but he wasn't letting me let go of the urge to pray for these people (especially a mom) on the room across the hall. I didn't know who was in that room... but I saw your blog on facebook... I know it was you!!!! I have no doubt! I have no question. I don't even have to ask you! You were in the room on the right when you first come through the door... closest to the bathroom. God had me praying for you! He had me pray for peace... comfort... understanding... there were so many words coming to my heart... God put us there, in that room... to pray for you. I told Tyler that I knew I had a friend in that room... someone that needed comfort... and my prayers. God is so awesome! Just thought you should know. Love you my sister!!!”

We were indeed in the first room on the right!  I cried as I read this note. Before I had a need, God had already placed an advocate there to intercede for me! As we waited for the doctors that night, I had excused myself to the restroom where I did what I rarely allow - I broke down in tears. Messy crying. Crouched in the corner of the bathroom, forehead on my knees, sobbing.  No prayers of faith. No words of wisdom. Just one heart-broken mom that my child was in so much pain and there was nothing I could do to help her.

She went on to write: “It was awesome! God is awesome! . . .He was there for you!!! He was there before you! We were there first! Lol.”


The most amazing part of this story is that how God showed this Momma that she was loved - He still knew her name; that she was valued - He knew He could use her to pray; and that His timing was perfect- she was there first.

My friend’s obedience that night began when she chose that hospital to seek care for her child. It continued when she prayed. And in sharing the story, it was completed! I needed to hear how God had made provision for us and also had God redeemed our pain by calling His daughter back to Him.

Where is God calling you to obey today?  It may be simple, even seem silly - but never discount that quiet voice that urges you to Go. Pray. Love. Obey.

Be Strong and of Good Courage

By Tawna Wilkinson

“Be strong and of good courage…do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9 NKJV)

During my most recent visit in this passage of Scripture, the timing of the command jumped out at me. That prior to Joshua chapter one, the phrase had only been given twice: The first being, when the twelve were sent to spy out the Promised Land, Moses simply commanded them to, “Be of good courage." (Numbers 13:20)

And the second was in his last words prior to his death, as the children of Israel were preparing to enter the Land. There Moses repeated it three times, and added the words: “Be strong.”
(Deuteronomy 31)

Then, in Joshua chapter one, while on the verge of possessing the Land, the Lord reiterated it to Joshua – again, three times.

It got me thinking. Why would God save this specific command for the Promised Land? Why would the children of Israel need to present this kind of muster?

God promised He would give it to them, already rife with everything they would need, or want. And not only would it be given, but He promised after they were there, He would be with them, prepare their way, and give them instruction as to how to they were to proceed.

So why be so emphatic regarding strength and courage?

For one, there were giants. Real giants. And those giants, along with the other people groups, being heavily armed, weren’t going to simply hand their properties over without a fight. And two, the cities were seriously fortified, having thick impenetrable walls. Like Jericho, the city they would first encounter. Its walls were said to be 25 feet tall and 10 feet deep.

Those two reasons alone were enough for God to have to rally them with the command. 

However, I believe He saved this particular charge for a deeper purpose. Although He would keep His promise of giving them the Land, His modus operandi of giving was not theirs. They had an important part to play in the conquest.

After hearing His instruction, the children of Israel were to carry out every detail precisely as God said – such as silently marching around the 25 foot walled Jericho for a week, then yelling and blowing trumpets on the last day.

Then there was the time He gave the order to simply sing and praise Him, while standing by and watching, three allied forces annihilate themselves instead of attacking Israel as threatened.

Or another time, while being thoroughly outnumbered, again, He commanded them to merely break a bunch of clay pitchers and do some more hollering.

Or, and in my opinion, this being the crème-de-la-crème: on more than one occasion, God charged them to obtain favor from their enemies by “just” praying.

No wonder He saved, and repeated: “Be strong and of good courage.”

But what’s that got to do with us now?

The truth is God has given each of us a “Promised Land” – individually and collectively. And just because we don’t see the giants and fortified places with our physical eyes, does not mean they are any less real, dangerous, or formidable. Scripture speaks of us wrestling with evil and powerful forces. And it states clearly, the devil is like a roaring lion and thief desiring to devour, rob and destroy the abundant life God promised.

But again, I believe God gives us the charge today, for the same deeper purpose He did Israel. Although the Land’s been given, God’s method of giving is not ours. We have an important part to play in the conquest, as well.

We also are to listen to God’s instruction then carry out every detail precisely as He says. And it may well be things like: silently marching, or breaking a bunch of pitchers, or singing and praising, then standing still and watching; or dare I say, “just” pray?

With commands like these and engaging an enemy we cannot see, it's no wonder we will have to present the same kind of muster.

So, “Be strong and of good courage.”

Oh yeah, and “… do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Good words then. Good words now.