Therefore, I Believe
Holding the unresolved pain and confusion, sitting with Him in a place of intimacy, I was invited into choice. It’s the same choice I have every moment of every day. It’s the kind of thing I too often discover where I chose poorly, or shall I say, faithlessly. And yet, He never stops smiling, never stops inviting, never shames or dismisses me for trying to relieve the pain illegitimately. He wants me to sit with Him in our place of intimacy and “believe.”
Living in Hope
Biblical hope does not promise sorted circumstances or a desired outcome from the struggle. Hope has more to do with confidence (can we say enjoying?) that God is up to something good within us and, consequently, through us. Hope does not ignore the fact that we are afraid, hurting, or even angry about the situation we may be facing. Hope brings an assurance that God is on the move and we are in good hands.
Deferred Hope
What if what you want (desired outcome) never happens? What would you say to someone whose story is never “heard” or they never see justice? What of those longing for a child while doctors work to unravel the infertility questions? For the single parent trying to “make ends meet,” raise their kids, have a life, and stay engaged, what can be said to that person?
The Basis of Hope
If this is what He does to His friends, what must it be like to be His enemy? Seriously. Why would Jeremiah claim that even taking another breath under such horrible conditions is evidence of God’s mercy? Love. Covenantal love, to be precise. I know, the answer does not feel equal to the pain and distress. Yet, somehow, knowing God is in a loving covenantal relationship with Him contextualizes the pain.
A Stabilizing Hope
Without a source of income and no freedom to search for a job under the conditions of their lockdown, this family has chosen to trust rather than panic. After praying as a family, the father prayed over his wife and kids. “The highlight of the night was when [Frank], with tears and deep love, said, “I thank God for each one of you. I feel I am the richest man in the world because I have all of you.”
A Misplaced Hope
Modern connotations of hope look more like “uncertainty associated with a desired outcome,” which is little more than wishful thinking.* This wishful thinking usually shows up in phrases like, “I hope you get to feeling better.” Or, “I hope everything works out alright.” In the same way, this kind of hoping can stray into things like thinking that if we try hard enough, work at something long enough, are smart enough, then we can actually reach our desired outcome.
