Hope in God
“The setting of a great hope is like the setting of the sun. The brightness of our life is gone.” - Henry Wadesworth Longfellow
Today I stumbled across this quote in some papers I was sorting through from a long while ago. It struck me how true it is of my life recently but yet it seemed strangely depressing. Is it really true that when a hope is crushed the brightness of life vanishes?
For the Christian I don’t believe this needs to be permanent. Yes there will be times when we are overcome with sorrow and grief, when dashed hopes and unexpected disappointments seem to take all the happiness out of our lives. You can see this throughout the Bible and especially in the book of Psalms. David’s poems are full of strong expressions of sorrow, anger, pain and tears. Yet after these storms you will see him praising God and rejoicing again; seeming to have rediscovered the joy of life.
In Psalm 42 he says to himself : “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
This is only possible through the gentle correction and comfort of the Holy Spirit. We are so faithless, so quick to question and become downhearted and doubtful. Yet He continues faithfully drawing our focus back to Himself, reminding us of Who our hope is, and giving us the faith to wait on His timing.
How good God truly is! How full of unending mercy and tender love toward His children! Therefore, when as through eyes full of tears we watch our hopes or dreams die, we can know and trust that the joy and brightness of life will return; for it does not rest in anything but Jesus Christ. He alone is our hope, our strength, and our comfort.
on August 16th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Good words Smiles. Christian sometimes forget, that they were never promised a world or a life, without problems. In fact, they can expect more trouble, as they devote themselves more to God. God’s enemies, and life itself, treat followers as they treated Jesus - unfairly. We are human, and God knows our frame, and is their to comfort us in the low times, if we faithfully seek Him out. We have tools and a perspective, which helps, if we can but remember to utilize them. Our life here is brief, and of little significance. Here we are tested, here ,we are being perfected for our real home, in eternity with God.
Our feelings are things which lie to us. They tell us we are worthless, when we are of such great worth, that the King of the universe died for us. Our feelings tell us that things are going badly, when in truth, nothing escapes God’s notice, and His plans are much bigger that our individual lives.
Our feeling are low, when we live for ourselves, make plans, and find our expectations are unfulfilled. When we can manage to step outside our own perspective, we realize that we are here to serve God, toglorify Him, and not pursue satisfying our yearnings. When we devote ourselves to seeking His will, then our desires are what He desires, and we can again find joy, because God will have His way.
It is not easy to take up our cross and follow daily. It is not in our human nature to do so. We are called to obedience and trust, finding contentment in our situation. Exercise and struggle, is what wins the race, and we hqve a reward at the finish line.
Our daily lives are assaulted by the fast food, instant gratification mentality. We need intead, to go to the back of the ine, seek the good of others, confident that He that is last, shall be first.
Jesus,our prime example,left the glory of Heaven to come here to suffer, knowing that at the end of His life, blessing would pour forth.
Paul, had a list that most of us would do well to consider, before we get too into feeling sorry for ourselves - 2 Cor 11:23-29
Finally, we should all be holding each other up in prayer, for strengh, perseverance, wisdom, and the peace that God only can give.
Thanks for the blog. Ps 103
on November 13th, 2007 at 2:52 am
I love these posts! Wonderful words of wisdom Smiles and OmegaMan!