The Importance of Hope

When I entered college, I thought I had the world figured out. After a few years in college I had an idea of what I wanted to do but wasn't too sure about my life. Now I'm just simply glad to have a job and I don't really think about where I want my career to take me. When I thought about this initially, it seemed to me that as I grew older and older, the worries and cares of life have begun to unravel my plans and goals. As I considered this thought, I realized that as our goals and desires disappear that we can fill these things in with what belonged there in the first place: An undying hope and desire for God. We can have all these plans and things we wish to accomplish in this life, but inevitably the strain and cost of running down that path tears us down little by little and at the end of the journey we look back and wonder what it was all for.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. -1 Timothy 6:7

We came into this world bare and with no promise of an inheritance other than the great promise of eternal life and caring from a loving God. When I think about my imaginary earthly inheritance, I imagine that if I had one I'd be excited for when it came to me. (Hopefully not when my parents died but more like when I became a certain age) But as this verse from Timothy tells us that when we leave this world we will take nothing with us and therefore the realization and hope of an earthly inheritance fades. But we came into the world with the promise of a loving God and we leave with that promise yet. We did not bring grace with us into this world, and when as leave it will still always be with us.

There's this new song by Tim Be Told called Analyze. In the official music video it shows these people holding up signs for how they feel. Watching these people, I realized that the thing they lacked was a hope for greater things and a realization of their blessings. Throughout the video, these people go through a transformation of sorts and their signs change.

I feel scared...but I'm loved
I feel inadequate...but I'm talented
I feel weak...but I'm strong
I feel ugly...but I'm beautiful
I feel burnt out...but I'm not giving up
I feel lost...but I won't stop
I feel confused...but I'll be ready
I feel irrelevant....but I'm important
I feel worried...but I'll figure it out
I feel unaccepted...but I'm unique
I feel cynical...but I still hope
I'm hurt...but I'm getting better
I feel angry inside...but I'll find peace
I feel unwanted...but I'm needed
I'm lonely...but I'm not alone
I'm broken...but I'll rise up
I feel stupid...but I'm still learning

Listening to this song I saw that when we add God into the equation all the hurt and pain is made into a sanctifying process by which we are being turned into His likeness. This does not mean that the pain goes away or that the hurt is any less, but that now we have purpose in the suffering. We have hope that all this is for something more, that at the end of this suffering there is infinite joy in the living God who has rescued and rescues us daily from our burdens and the cruelty of this world. God existing outside of time means that all the seemingly worthless pain we experienced indeed had a purpose, to bring us in the end under the shadow of His wings and into His loving embrace. When I thought about these negative feelings listed here, I felt a certain hopelessness in it all. I know at some point in my life I've felt all of these. But the transforming power of God's word changes these emotions into a positive reality.

Without hope we lose track of what the reality is. We no longer have encouragement and strength in what is to come. We fall into the dredges of life and feel pulled by nothing except empty promises that we cannot take with us. But we are not these. We have been given a great calling and promise in Christ and we live in hope of that inheritance we will gain when His glory is realized once again and He returns to redeem and grant us the eternity of salvation. All that we experience and suffer through need to be tempered with the hope of Christ.

And so my unraveling plans expose a greater plan through it all. God does not call us to seek the future things of this world but rather the daily calling to thirst and hope in Him knowing that each day is another gift from Him for us to use and enjoy. We are called to give up considering our lives and success in the time to come and rather take up a burden to live each day well and pleasing in His sight. In these there will be suffering and joy, pain and happiness, but in all things there will be the God who sustains us and promises us an inheritance beyond anything this world can offer. An inheritance that will remain with us forever. May the hope of salvation in Christ strengthen your weak knees and tired arms.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. - Hebrews 10:23