For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures, and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope as we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
– Romans 15:4
Confession #1: Did I combine two translations of that verse to make my point? Maybe. Does that make me a Bible scholar or a blasphemer? Hmmm nevermind, let’s carry on…
It goes without saying that the holidays were different this year. It seems like everyone I knew was missing someone they love. My family was no exception.
But the more I reflect on this past Christmas, and 2020 as a whole; or even now, at the dawn of 2021 with another Covid lockdown and ongoing political unrest, I can’t help but be filled with H O P E.
I mentioned in my last post (which you can read here) that I’m encouraged by seeing how my own life parallels the lives of those in the Scriptures. And I’m comforted when discovering that part of my journey mirrors that of someone in the Bible.
I get excited to think that maybe, just maybe, God’s going to do a really cool thing that I just never would’ve expected… just like He did in the Bible!
And that’s basically what Romans 15:4 is saying.
Paul is telling the persecuted church in Rome that the Old Testament writings play a HUGE role in teaching them how to live through hardship, in encouraging them through hardship, in reminding them of what God has done!
And all of this is meant to fill them with HOPE as they wait for God to deliver what He had promised.
Confession #2: I have this thing that happens to me when someone opens up about a hardship they’re facing. I get [secretly VERY] excited. But not like when a new movie comes out, or when the server is heading your way with that Fettuccine Alfredo.
It’s more like this:
Hardship tells me that God is at work. In my mind, it’s just a simple equation.
Going through something difficult builds my faith, stretches me, and forces me to be grow in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise. It sure is painful, and sometimes downright tragic! But if we place our hope in God, He ALWAYS works out all things for our good, and His glory. (Romans 8:28)
The God of Hopeless Situations
Adam and Eve being kicked out of paradise for disobeying God feels like a hopeless situation. (Gen. 3)
Abraham (with a barren wife), was promised by God that He’d make him into a great nation. But elderly Abraham still waiting decades for a son, feels like a hopeless situation. (Gen. 15-16, 21)
Joseph’s symbolic dreams of ruling over his family, only to be nearly killed, sold into slavery, wrongfully accused and imprisoned feels like a hopeless situation. (Gen. 37, 39-45)
Moses, an 80 year old fugitive with a stutter being called to free God’s chosen people out of slavery from the most powerful empire the world had ever known feels like a hopeless situation. (Ex. 2-5)
David, just a kid, overlooked by anyone who mattered, suddenly the king’s big strategy for military victory feels like a hopeless situation. (I Sam. 17)
Mary, doing everything right and still winding up pregnant while unmarried feels like a hopeless situation. (Luk. 1)
Kathleen’s successful mastectomy brings initial relief, but finding out the cancer has spread feels like a hopeless situation.
Lucas, arriving home from college for spring break, only to be the one to find his younger brother had just taken his life feels like a hopeless situation.
Tess falls in love with a man her family finally approves of, but when the physical and verbal abuse begin just moments into their honeymoon, she feels trapped in a hopeless situation.
Jack hitting rock bottom in his battle with alcohol dependency knowing he can no longer hide the truth of his addiction feels like a hopeless situation.
Paul, after countless interviews with no job in sight, and employment insurance about to run out feels like a hopeless situation.
Isla, pregnant and unsure if her baby will come home to daddy living with them feels like a hopeless situation.
These are all real people (some Biblical, some current), with real struggles that feel really hopeless.
But please friends!!! Don’t miss this! What we just read are snapshots. They’re not the big picture. Not the whole story. They’re just one angle, part way through the whole story!
God isn’t finished with you in the middle of your story. And He’s not finished with our grieving and broken world the way we’re seeing it right now.
God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may only be aware of three of them.
– John Piper
Sometimes I think we’re so quick to tell God what He should do. That by speaking an action plan into a prayer, we’re somehow claiming it into fruition, and calling it bold faith.
We’re so quick to say that the Lord works in mysterious ways. (Isaiah 45:15) We say it almost flippantly! But do we believe it? God has always done unpredictable and unexpected things in His time.
I’ve learned that we’re much better off letting go of our expectations of what should happen, or when it should happen. Instead, let’s focus on just Him and more of Him in our lives!
He is still with us, still working, still has a plan. There is real comfort in His presence and He promises to NEVER leave us. Even in the hardship. ESPECIALLY IN THE HARDSHIP!
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
– Deuteronomy 31:8
Through whatever I’ve struggled through in my own life, my BIGGEST takeaway is this:
God’s faithfulness fills me with hope.
Not only that, but His proven faithfulness…
- to me personally
- to those I know
- and to those who’ve gone before us…
…tells me that He’s not going to break His track record of faithfulness on my current obstacle.
This is not going to be the thing that tells the world, God can’t be trusted. God is not faithful. It just won’t be! It’s never happened before. And He will not break His track record of faithfulness through the ages on me. Or on you. Or, frankly, on this global implosion.
Ok, I’m out. Getting off my soap box and hoping this year will be the most pleasantly surprising one yet!
One final note:
I’m starting a new thing with the blog this year!
At the end of each post will be a YouTube link to the song I’m currently vibing to.
Think of it as a sound wave from the overflow of my heart.
So much of what I write on here comes from the way I connect with God through the Scriptures, but also through song! So it made sense to share some of my favourites with you.
This segment will be titled:
What’s in the Ears
Here’s the first!
Well this one hits right in the feels at about 4:45. So, fair warning: tears may flow with this gem.
From The Overflow 