Remember Your Hope

I see plenty of things on social media that I hate. Like the pictures of Jesus that say, “If you love me, share this.” Or fake news. Or arguing about politics. But there’s one thing that I’ve seen, especially lately, that I hate seeing more than all the Jesus-themed chain letters in the world: Christians who speak as if they have no hope.

It seems to be a running theme these days. Christians who are distraught about the state of our country. Christians who just don’t see a way out of whatever their issues are. If you stop and take a close look at what your friends are saying online, you will likely see the theme of hopelessness come through over and over again.

And, frankly, it’s getting old.

We, of all people, Christian friends, should be facing the future with eyes fixed on the King of this universe, who happens to be the Creator of all things, who happens to be our Savior, who happens to be the very Word of God. We, of all people, have every reason to cling to Him with all faith that He is ruling our world with calm, careful, perfect goodness. We, of all people, should be showing the world what it looks like to really trust God. We, of all people, should know that when things look bad He is working it all out for good.

We, of all the people in the world, should be waking up each morning with these words on our lips and in our hearts: I trust you, Jesus.

With this country.

With my wayward kids.

With my health.

With my job.

With my broken heart.

With my sin problem.

I trust You with any and all of it.

Because Heaven knows that when humans get ahold of things we wreck them big-time. But, we aren’t trusting in humans or offices or laws or people who agree with us or people who don’t. We trust in the name of the Lord our God.

What does a lost and dying world see when it looks at Christians? Does it see hope or dread? Does it see assurance or panic?

What kind of messages are we sending about our faith in Christ when we put so much stock in the decisions of mere human beings? Do we have more faith in what we fear is going to happen than we have in what He promised is going to happen? He is mighty enough to handle our worries. Trust Him. And, stop filling the internet with a bunch of pointless hand-wringing. Fight for what’s godly, but trust Him with the outcome. He knows exactly what needs to happen. Have confidence that He will set everything right in the end.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25