Like many of you, I watched yesterday’s events unfold with a heavy heart. But as my wife and I discussed things, my mind kept returning to the idea of hope.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this below in the comments if you can spare a moment.
I kept thinking about this statement by the Apostle Paul:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
In today’s world, it proves difficult to not copy the behaviour and customs of the world. Social media and unreliable news media bombard us with bias and influence the way we think.
This makes the work of spiritual transformation more challenging but we do all we can to cling to the truth found in God. Jesus called himself the light of the world and invited everyone to step into his light and fight true life. This to me is where true hope begins.
How do we live as emissaries of hope during such a dark time?
To be emissaries of hope, we must first possess hope ourselves.
Lamentations 3:22-24
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will hope in him.’”
Our hope is not in the rulers or powers of this world, but in the one true God. Rather than being tossed back and forth by each new political wind that blows, we stay rooted in the timeless truths from our Father. As you say, we are not called to conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by a God whose mercies are new every morning.
Possessing hope will allow us to be emissaries of it. Our ability to remain hopeful amidst the chaos, to be people of peace, to be a calming presence in our communities will allow God’s hope to be manifest in us and through us.
Yes! This is my prayer. The Lamentations passage is my all-time favourite. Such a beautiful reminder that each day God gives us grace for the path ahead.
Thank you for the encouragement Tim! Your books and posts have been powerful challenges and encouragements to my faith. My small group worked through Veneer about 8 years ago and those concepts still challenge me today.
Bro! That is so encouraging to hear! I think you'll like the announcement coming from the newsletter next week. I had planned it for this week, but with the events of yesterday, I'm holding off till next week.
I listened to the BBC's in our time episode on hope so many times last year. It's so good! Why was hope left in Pandora's jar? Is it the greatest good or greatest evil? Pondering this question, I do think hope can be dangerous if it's our remedy for the discomfort of pain in the world that keeps us from entering into that pain as reconcilers and healers. The hope I have for the way forward requires of us this via dolarosa journey into the passions of others, the practice of confession and reconcilation. Wasn't it Aquinas who said hope has 4 qualities: something good, in the future that is difficult but possible to attain? My hope is to see the church walk the difficult road that names and rejects evil, repents of our complicity in unjust power systems and practices loving our neighbors. These things fill me with hope for the common good and renewal!
Good words and thoughts Timothy and Linda. Thank you.
These words hearten and instruct me again and again: “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.” -Mother Theresa
This points me toward goodness, instead of overwhelm with what “I can’t do” it helps me see the many daily practical things that are immediately within my reach. They might seem “small” to me at first, but believing more in God’s love and power than in my own weakness changes everything. Pressing on with all of you beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ 💛
Such a great reminder: give yourself fully to God. It seems as though we've fallen into a trap (we've, as in citizens/Christians) of giving ourselves fully to the political system; to always comment on what's going on; to be busy-bodies with our armchair reactions. Giving myself fully to God requires me to give up the distractions that might pull me into the behaviour and practices of the world.
The hope I live in is rooted in the joy I possess in the Lord. His Word says, "...in his presence is fullness of joy." I'm reminded that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is only produced as it remains on the vine. Joy is only produced in my heart as I remain in His presence, as I abide. I have shut off the news and have become very selective on social media. I don't need to be aware of everything that happens as it happens. I find this helps me more effectively abide in peace and focus on God's Word. I can still pray His will for our world and I can do it with the joy of the Lord and the hope of His promises. I don't want to spend time in conversation with others lamenting about what's happening. I want to focus on the Lord and bring the hope of His truth to those conversations! I want to bring the truth said well in an old Michael Card song, "..to all those who stumble in the darkness, behold your light has come!"
To be emissaries of hope, we must first possess hope ourselves.
Lamentations 3:22-24
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will hope in him.’”
Our hope is not in the rulers or powers of this world, but in the one true God. Rather than being tossed back and forth by each new political wind that blows, we stay rooted in the timeless truths from our Father. As you say, we are not called to conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by a God whose mercies are new every morning.
Possessing hope will allow us to be emissaries of it. Our ability to remain hopeful amidst the chaos, to be people of peace, to be a calming presence in our communities will allow God’s hope to be manifest in us and through us.
Yes! This is my prayer. The Lamentations passage is my all-time favourite. Such a beautiful reminder that each day God gives us grace for the path ahead.
Thank you for the encouragement Tim! Your books and posts have been powerful challenges and encouragements to my faith. My small group worked through Veneer about 8 years ago and those concepts still challenge me today.
Bro! That is so encouraging to hear! I think you'll like the announcement coming from the newsletter next week. I had planned it for this week, but with the events of yesterday, I'm holding off till next week.
I listened to the BBC's in our time episode on hope so many times last year. It's so good! Why was hope left in Pandora's jar? Is it the greatest good or greatest evil? Pondering this question, I do think hope can be dangerous if it's our remedy for the discomfort of pain in the world that keeps us from entering into that pain as reconcilers and healers. The hope I have for the way forward requires of us this via dolarosa journey into the passions of others, the practice of confession and reconcilation. Wasn't it Aquinas who said hope has 4 qualities: something good, in the future that is difficult but possible to attain? My hope is to see the church walk the difficult road that names and rejects evil, repents of our complicity in unjust power systems and practices loving our neighbors. These things fill me with hope for the common good and renewal!
Good words and thoughts Timothy and Linda. Thank you.
These words hearten and instruct me again and again: “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.” -Mother Theresa
This points me toward goodness, instead of overwhelm with what “I can’t do” it helps me see the many daily practical things that are immediately within my reach. They might seem “small” to me at first, but believing more in God’s love and power than in my own weakness changes everything. Pressing on with all of you beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ 💛
Such a great reminder: give yourself fully to God. It seems as though we've fallen into a trap (we've, as in citizens/Christians) of giving ourselves fully to the political system; to always comment on what's going on; to be busy-bodies with our armchair reactions. Giving myself fully to God requires me to give up the distractions that might pull me into the behaviour and practices of the world.
The hope I live in is rooted in the joy I possess in the Lord. His Word says, "...in his presence is fullness of joy." I'm reminded that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is only produced as it remains on the vine. Joy is only produced in my heart as I remain in His presence, as I abide. I have shut off the news and have become very selective on social media. I don't need to be aware of everything that happens as it happens. I find this helps me more effectively abide in peace and focus on God's Word. I can still pray His will for our world and I can do it with the joy of the Lord and the hope of His promises. I don't want to spend time in conversation with others lamenting about what's happening. I want to focus on the Lord and bring the hope of His truth to those conversations! I want to bring the truth said well in an old Michael Card song, "..to all those who stumble in the darkness, behold your light has come!"
I love the imagery of a deep-rooted peace. Thank you for that!