A Door of Hope
Hosea 2:15, states that the Lord will “give the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.” Achor means “Trouble.” It was given this name from a story found in Joshua 7. Achan had sinned against the Lord by keeping back some of the spoils from the battle with Jericho. Athis act of disobedience caused the children of Isreal to be defeated in their battle with Ai. As a result, Achan, his family and all his possessions were brought to a valley where they were stoned and set on fire. From that day on, that place was known as the Valley of Achor, or for our purposes the “valley of trouble.”
In Hosea, the prophet is speaking prophetically about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the door that offers hope to all people, no matter what valley of trouble they find themselves in, or what reason. Jesus knew that the best place to position Himself to ensure that all people would encounter Him would be in the “valley of trouble.” Because sooner or later everyone must come through there. For whatever reason, trouble is designed to send us to God and to find His Salvation. Trouble has a way of motivating people to look for answers from sources they normally wouldn’t consider. Salvation doesn’t happen before trouble, but in it. That is where most people discover the “door of hope” because they are too busy blaming the valley for all their troubles. As long as people blame their race, gender, family upbringing, or their circumstances, they will never find the “door of hope.” The door can’t change your race, it can’t change your gender, it can’t change the way you were brought up, and it can’t change your circumstances.But it can change you.
If you admit that you are in the valley because of choices that you made and if your desire is not to seek an escape from it, but a way through it, then the “door of hope” will be made available to you. Because trouble has a way of distorting reality, most people need help finding the “door of hope.”
That is where you and I come in. As Christians, we are called to go into the “valleys of trouble,” to help those that are in there to discover the “door of hope.” Without our help most people will end up like Achan and his family reaping the retribution that they sowed for, without ever knowing that a “door of hope” was only a prayer away.
The Lord has called this ministry to several valleys. We have been called to the valley of drug addiction and alcoholism; we’ve been called to thevalley of crime and incarceration, and we have been called to the valley of religious mediocrity and complacency. We are committed to doing everything wecan to help all of those that are mired down and trapped in these valleys to find the “door of hope,” which will not only lead them out of that particular “valley of trouble,” but will help keep them from future valleys as well.
What about you? What valleys has the Lord called you to? You can’t point people to the door; you must lead them to it. In order to do that, you will have to go to the valley yourself and trust that the Lord will keep you in the midst of it, while you help those that are in there to discover the “door of hope.”
For Achan and his family there was no “door of hope” in their “valley of trouble.” What happened to Achan and his family doesn’t have to happen anymore. Jesus has done His part by positioning Himself in the midst of the “valleys of trouble.” Now it is up to us, who know Him and can recognize Him, to help other to discover the only door that offers any real hope to their particular “valley of trouble.”
Jim Newsom
Diane’s Updates
School is out and Ronan has been having a blast going to fun summer camps. First, he went to Circus Camp and learned how to do maneuvers on the “silks,” which are long silk material that hang down from the ceiling. And he learned how to walk on top of a very large ball. Next, he went to Minecraft Camp where he explored the forest and then built buildings on the computer game. The latest camp was Camp Hi-Ho where he swam in the pond, fished, and ziplined. He has had a lot of fun so far this summer.
Riker celebrated his first birthday last month and devoured his chocolate cupcake! He is close to walking but hasn’t realized that he can do it yet. He has adjusted to daycare well and seems to have made some friends. He has such a sweet personality and is such a joyful little boy. He absolutely adores his big brother and loves to watch the antics Ronan does to make him laugh.
My physical therapy for my foot is progressing slowly, but soon I’m hoping to ditch the walker and walk without a brace on my foot.
This past year without Jim has been very difficult for me. I miss so many things about him. He was my best friend, and it is hard not having him around to talk to and share things with. I miss having him call me several times a day just to chat while he would be away on ministry trips. I didn’t realize how very blessed I was until I didn’t have Jim in my life anymore. He truly was one in a million!