Unacceptable Hopelessness
We had an amazing church service yesterday. I got to sing, which always fills me up like no other, and I was especially excited to sing a new song our worship leader wrote called "Rescue" with him. I wish I had a recording of it to share - it's just so beautiful.
Our pastor (and one of our BFFs; we double-dated with him & his wife Saturday night and laughed hysterically the whole time. We're both the same age, which has been fascinating, b/c we've never had a young pastor before, but he totally has a gift! JB & I both eagerly look forward to his sermons every week! Sorry to digress, anyway he...) spoke yesterday on hope.
Super-famous 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." These three should be our ultimate distinguishing characteristics. If someone who claims to be a follower of Christ has no love in his heart for anyone, we see he is obviously not really a Christian. If a someone says they're a Christian but isn't sure if there's really a heaven or if Jesus is really real, (no faith,) of course we know he is not really a Christian. So why then is it "acceptable" to us when Christians walk around without hope: "Well, I just don't know what we're going to do... Things are so bad & so tough, we're just in despair... I can't stop freaking out..."
That hit me like a ton of bricks - especially right now, since we don't know what/where the next few months could bring us, and b/c I do feel like I've had a major break-through on this point. My close friends keep asking if there's been any job offer news or decisions, (nope,) and they cannot believe I am not freaking out. A couple years ago, I would've been churning 24/7 over the possibilities...but I know it's b/c deep down, I just wanted control (& my way,) and I kept trying to come up with ways to make it happen, (none of which ever came to fruition, b/c - HELLO - God was in control; not me!) I really feel like I've grown in hope - not that I don't have TONS more growing to do!!!!! But compared to how I would have been mulling different scenarios ad nauseum, which would have been (& was) a total waste of time instead of TRULY trusting (not just *saying* I trust) God to put us in the perfect places & positions? Yeah. My hope is in Him.
Our pastor (and one of our BFFs; we double-dated with him & his wife Saturday night and laughed hysterically the whole time. We're both the same age, which has been fascinating, b/c we've never had a young pastor before, but he totally has a gift! JB & I both eagerly look forward to his sermons every week! Sorry to digress, anyway he...) spoke yesterday on hope.
Super-famous 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." These three should be our ultimate distinguishing characteristics. If someone who claims to be a follower of Christ has no love in his heart for anyone, we see he is obviously not really a Christian. If a someone says they're a Christian but isn't sure if there's really a heaven or if Jesus is really real, (no faith,) of course we know he is not really a Christian. So why then is it "acceptable" to us when Christians walk around without hope: "Well, I just don't know what we're going to do... Things are so bad & so tough, we're just in despair... I can't stop freaking out..."
That hit me like a ton of bricks - especially right now, since we don't know what/where the next few months could bring us, and b/c I do feel like I've had a major break-through on this point. My close friends keep asking if there's been any job offer news or decisions, (nope,) and they cannot believe I am not freaking out. A couple years ago, I would've been churning 24/7 over the possibilities...but I know it's b/c deep down, I just wanted control (& my way,) and I kept trying to come up with ways to make it happen, (none of which ever came to fruition, b/c - HELLO - God was in control; not me!) I really feel like I've grown in hope - not that I don't have TONS more growing to do!!!!! But compared to how I would have been mulling different scenarios ad nauseum, which would have been (& was) a total waste of time instead of TRULY trusting (not just *saying* I trust) God to put us in the perfect places & positions? Yeah. My hope is in Him.
we are learning the same lesson in two different scenarios, or at least, differing scenarios. i am so proud of you for stepping out in faith, and clinging to the "hope that we profess, for He who promised IS FAITHFUL"! i love what your pastor said about that verse: faith, hope and love. honestly, i've heard so much on that verse but it never really hit the nail on the head - i think you just did! so exciting! i'm going to mull on that all night and tomorrow :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the interpretation of that verse. It seems so obvious, but I've never heard it phrased like that before. Keep up the great faith!
ReplyDeleteIT IS SO HARD! We sound like we have this in common. I'm a "doer" in which I mean that if you want to see something done/changed/fixed, you "DO" something to make it happen. But when it comes to God's will in your life, you can't do anything. It's frustrating at times but you just have to let HIM drive and that is sometimes hard for the person who always wants to be proactive about change.
ReplyDeleteI know - I've never thought about that verse like that either, and it's completely rocking my perspective!!! LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteThank y'all for being here with me!!!