Hope

November 15, 2017

Sometimes we just have to hold on. We live in a society where people often think that everything should come easily, without pain or difficulty. Particularly in matters of faith, people often expect God to make a smooth path for them. Difficulties are often seen as indication of Satanic opposition or a removal of God’s favor, instead of being a tool for our growth in grace.

I like good times as much as anyone, and do my best to avoid unnecessary troubles. But life has a way of interfering with my plans for ease and comfort. Jesus told us that in this life we would have troubles, and James reminded us to not be surprised by the “fiery trials” that come our way. Trouble, pain, and resident evil are not signs that God has abandoned us. In Hebrews 10:23, we are told to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” 

When troubles come, too often we cling to them instead of to our confession of hope. I’ve seen Christians in despair over who holds political office, or the latest misfortune that has come their way, or are given to complaining about everything from their health to the weather. It’s the natural thing to do. Anyone can see the troubles; it takes special vision to see the hope. And it takes a special strength to hold on to it without wavering. We forget that if everything were as we wish it to be, there would be no need for hope. 

Hope is the currency that gets us through this life, and it is thoroughly unreasonable to have it unless the last half of that sentence is true: “he who has promised is faithful.” If he is not, our hope is mere whistling in the dark. But if he is faithful, we have reason to hope, and to hold tightly to it. It requires deliberate and consistent choices on our part to let go of despair and complaint in order to hold onto hope. I am thankful tonight for the Scriptures that keep me grounded and focused, for the hope I confess, and for the God whose promises are faithful and true.