Why are you hopeful?
The battles are long, the news is dark, the world is divisive & full of injustice, wickedness is praised, people are isolated, hurt, lost, and fearful. These last couple of years have brought huge cultural shifts, a worldwide pandemic & subsequent responses, greater divisions, and overall hard times both personally and corporately. And it can feel like there is not a lot to be hopeful about. How can we be hopeful in the middle of divisive/ divided politics, the fires, the racial relations, the corruption, the hurting, the deceiving, the border, Afghanistan, oh, and the pandemic?
1 Peter 3:13-17 proclaims “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
We have a hope in us even on the darkest days. And not only do we get to rest in that but we get to share the hope. In gentleness and respect we can share with the world why our hope doesn’t ride on our president or a vaccine for COVID. We have been saved by grace through faith! (Ephesians 2:8-9). Not anything that we have done or could accomplish but Christ dying for our sins and giving us new life!! (Romans 5:8) This is all temporary but we set our eyes on the unseen – eternity! (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) We groan with the earth for redemption (Romans 8:23-25) and the new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17–19) Where every tear will be wiped away and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4). We are adopted into the family of God and we get an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading (1 Peter 1:4) He is continuing His work in us (Philippians 1:6) and has given us the Holy Spirit to be with us always (John 14:15-17) AND Romans 10:23 reminds us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
We are able to stand firm on the Truth when the world around us is crumbling. When the definition of right & wrong changes with the culture, the word of the Lord endures forever (1 Peter 1:25) and we always have access to the Truth through scripture. Read your Bible. Know what the Lord says. Build your home on the rock so that when the storms come you stand firm! (Matthew 7:24-27)
A Mama’s Prayer
Lord today I pray I would know and feel this hope! Empower me by the power of the Holy Sprit to be faithful to be in the Word and always prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks the reason for the hope that is in me. I pray for the darkness that is all around. I pray that it won’t weigh me down but that you would be my strength – you would be my light and my song. Because it is you alone who is my salvation! Help me to be zealous for what is good. Do not permit the trials of this world steal my peace. Remind me that you are victorious and use me to make your Kingdom come! May I be a light in my home, faithful to point my kids back to you. And may our family be a light to the world around us. Give us eyes to see those hurting around us and boldness to share the hope we have! Amen.