| DEVOTIONHis Compassions Fail NotBy 
Missey ButlerGuest Writer
 
 CBN.com 
                -- As our nation watches in disbelief the unfolding of what appears 
                to be an unending nightmare for the people of the Gulf Coast states, 
                it soon becomes apparent that mere words cannot adequately describe 
                the rising toll of human suffering.  It’s one thing to view such heartbreaking scenes in a far-away 
                country, but quite another when the same scenes begin to unfold 
                right here on our own soil. It’s like being punched in the 
                stomach and then reeling from the pain as the reality of what 
                has just happened begins to fully register. It was stated that 
                many have become “American refugees” as news footage 
                shows the stories of one brother, arm in arm, leading another 
                brother out from among the ravages of destruction. My husband and I sat numbed with silence as we witnessed the 
                utter ruin of city after city. I felt overtaken with a multitude 
                of emotions, the more evident one being disbelief. Psychologists 
                describe such feelings as empathy, but I’m not even sure 
                if we can begin to understand the scope of the pain and misery 
                that is now pouring over the victims of this monstrous storm. I heard a news reporter state, “We are just going to have 
                to come up with some new words because what we are seeing here 
                cannot be described by ordinary words.” Yes, words often 
                fail us!  There is one word, however, that we can always count on -- hope. 
                It acts as an anchor, helping us to stand firm and fixed through 
                the storms of life. In biblical terms, hope is closely aligned 
                with faith. The book of Hebrews tells us that “faith is 
                the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1). Hope, 
                therefore, is the object upon which we can direct all of our energies. In the days and weeks to come, we need to be faithful to pray 
                that God will cover our Gulf Coast friends with the promise and 
                the hope of His unfailing word: 
                 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put 
                  to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn 
                  your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I 
                  can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock 
                  and my fortress (Psalm 71: 1-3).  We as a nation will once again rise up in response to the cry 
                of our fellow man by extending a compassionate heart and a helpful 
                hand, as we together begin to take steps toward restoration and 
                the healing of all who have suffered. Our hope and trust is in 
                our God, whose compassions never fail us. 
 
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