Hope in Our Crazy World - Pt 1

Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! (Psalm 31:23-24 ESV).

First, I need to begin this series of thoughts with a disclaimer. They are apolitical, intended to be an encouragement to those who find their circumstance untenable, however broad they may be. You may be facing a very specific crisis with no apparent bearing on anyone but yourself; or, you may be wrestling with much broader challenges. Whatever your situation, you may be getting to a particular position when hope seems impossible to possess. These are intended for you. Also, I do not post these as an invitation to debate my position. I am fully aware that there are at least as many, perhaps more, who would disagree. Again, the intent is to forge a way forward to regain hope, not change anyone’s political or theological position in this public setting. The series is actually prompted from a brief question Mary asked me earlier. Almost in casual conversation, she asked, “What do you think about the new law in New York?” My first reaction was “I think it’s ludicrous.” To be fair and accurate, the law is not as broad as it has been reported through some media. It does not give access to late term abortions in every circumstance; however, as the Associated Press has reported in a quote from Governor Cuomo: “The new law safeguards rights laid out in Roe v. Wade and other court rulings, including a provision permitting late-term abortions when a woman's health is endangered.” Various media outlets have taken this moment to champion their positions and in so doing subtly misled their audience to believe it is much more than it is. It’s still much more than I would agree with, politically and theologically. My point is that it leaves us without trust in those who should be simply reporting facts. The same can be said in the Government shutdown. It has degenerated into a “he said/she said” battle with more spin that truth reported, while thousands of innocent people are adversely affected. The erosion of truth in favor of any political position or agenda is dangerous. It attacks our hope. As Christians we must remember that our ultimate hope is not in this present life. It is not in what we can see now, but in the world unseen, and our final destination of Heaven. If we choose to “hope in the Lord” as this scripture says, He will give us the strength to get through it, no matter our situation. Over the next few days I’m going to look at some specific ways to regain your hope and power. Like the tiny seedling pushing its way up through the dead stump in our picture today, I hope these words will give you that strength and perseverance to press upward in this crazy world!