I came to a point today when I realized that what I am really experiencing is a lack of hope. When there appears to be no hope, I don’t know if life can get much worse. We need hope to survive. In my mind, it’s kind of like the relationship between fire and oxygen. Fire cannot survive without oxygen.
There isn’t just any hope we need…like hope in a new job, relationship, living arrangements, friends. No, the kind of hope we need goes far beyond that. It is a hope that needs redemption. Because, let’s face it—we all have dark circumstances we go through. We need the kind of hope that doesn’t ignore sin. We need the kind of hope that doesn’t brush the dirt under the rug. We don’t want superficial hope, because that’s not what hope is.
Hope meets us in the darkest places, and it shines. It shines despite the grimmest circumstances. It burns against all odds. It doesn’t pretend darkness doesn’t exist. No, it actually uses darkness to shine even brighter. It takes all our worries, concerns, and anxieties and turns it into something good.
Hope is found in Jesus Christ. Hope is found in the midst of the sin that so easily entangles. Hope is a sinner set free. Hope looks straight at mankind’s troubles and overcomes. Hope is only found in Jesus alone.
Recently, the enemy really tried to take away my hope through my struggles. See, you did this and that – you can’t be forgiven. You turned away. You know deep down you were turning away from God. There’s no hope for you.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Right now, our struggles don’t make sense, but God is using this time to mold us, shape us into a better version of ourselves. We may NEVER know why…but later on, whether on earth or heaven, we will see the bigger picture to our suffering.
God is working everything for our good.
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” ~ Philippians 1:6
For example, say you’ve had your heart broken recently (which I can relate to)—countless Christians have testified how they are thankful later on with the person they ended up with rather than the relationship that didn’t work out.
****As a side note, have you ever listened to the country song “Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks?
God can use the difficult seasons in our lives to prune us and make us more effective for His Kingdom. Sometimes the pain and anxiety seem unbearable. Our physical bodies might be to the point of exhaustion, but we should not give up.
“But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31
There is still hope for us. Sometimes, especially those of us with Scrupulosity (“Religious OCD”), we may find ourselves looking at secular strategies and avoiding God and His Word altogether because we get so much anxiety. I’ve found that the more I press into God (not listening to the condemning thoughts), the more relief I get.
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Psalms 139:7-8
When I’m distressed thinking I’m beyond the redemption of Jesus, I need to hold to the Bible’s comforting truths. There is always hope. I often find that when I’m in my darkest places, I reach out to others more than I normally would do if I wasn’t facing a struggle. I learn a lot more than I otherwise would. God is using this season of your life as a refining process. Don’t hide. Seek Him more.
May our lights shine even brighter in the midst of darkness.
REFERENCES/RESOURCES:
Here is a good video for those going through a hard time struggling. This video is about a relationship, but I think it could be applied to many other difficulties/let downs: https://youtu.be/RaG8uUEctX0 {3 Reasons God Took a Relationship Away from You}
“Grace” - This song popped up on YouTube on my recommended, and I’m reminded how comforting it is (like many of Laura Story’s songs) – enjoy! 😊 https://youtu.be/0BVxAYGt2kc?list=RD0BVxAYGt2kc