Hope Over Fear
Fear and despair are FAR easier to fall into than hope and comfort. The reality of present loss can be much more encompassing than potential future gain. Anxiety tells us, in the midst of uncertainty, that hope is foolish and ignorant. That we’re missing something if we have hope. It shouts to us that somehow, worry will help us see all the angles - but it’s absolutely untrue. Despair is ultimately blinding, destructive, discouraging, and causes those who are caught in its snare to give up rather than push through.
But hope, and more importantly, the object of that hope, makes ALL the difference. When we hope in ourselves, or anything in this world, we hope in something that will fail, which makes despair easy. It makes sense that in the midst of something like Covid, that our society is one of worry and despair. As Christians though, we are to actively place our hope in the absolute highest and most reliable being in existence - God Himself. That doesn’t mean we walk recklessly or arrogantly, but we absolutely don’t drown in fear and despair. The Bible tells us that He knows us, has our days numbered, will provide for us according to His perfect and Fatherly will, and will ultimately heal and usher into eternal peace and life those who are truly in Christ.
With all that surrounds us, it can be very easy to forget, but Christian, don’t lose sight of the truth. In the midst of job loss, government corruption, political upheaval, sickness, uncertainty, sinful humanity, financial instability, societal disunity, and everything else that may cause us to despair, EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. More than ok! It doesn’t mean we won’t experience loss or suffering, but Jesus is with us in it. He is coming back to make all things new. He is not worried. He is not anxious. He is seated. He sees everything in your life. NONE of it is on your shoulders. He’s got it all, and He hasn’t forgotten. Eternity will be here before we know it - and the hope of that is a benefit available to us via the Holy Spirit in the midst of this fallen world.
Don’t let the fear of death ruin your life. Don’t fall into the trap and lie of any of it. Remind your soul today, and EVERY day, that even in the midst of darkness, to rejoice! Joy and hope in the midst of darkness is not ignorance, it’s maturity. Rest in Jesus. Trust in Him. Have joy, because even though things are hard now, He has overcome the world.
He has not given us a spirit of fear. If you’re afraid, it’s not from God.
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1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
