Lens of Hope

Since this is my final blog post for 2022, I thought I would write about endings. You and I experience endings all throughout life.

• Ends of semesters.
• “Let’s just be friends” conversations.
• Final paychecks.
• Last walk off the field / court / rink.
• Final wishes and words.

All things, not just good things, must come to an end except God’s love and the Church (body of Christ). Therefore, we must prepare ourselves for dealing with and navigating the endings we experience whether caused by us or initiated by others.

You and I can best navigate the ends when we sharpen our perspective on life itself. Specifically, we must learn, if we desire to be well-adjusted individuals, to view life through the lens of hope.

Paul reminded the Gentiles in Ephesus that they had been “without hope and without God in [their] world" (Ephesians 2:12).

Hope and God always go together. That is to say – there is no hope (true and lasting) without God and wherever God works, He always brings hope.

A good question to ask is “How do we live in and see through the lens of hope?” I suggest these starting steps.

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1. Stop worrying.

Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

2. Keep the long view.

Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope, we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

3. Seek peace.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

4. Live for another Kingdom (and King).

John 18:36 (NIV)
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Hope that is fleeting is built on the wrong foundation. Hope that is built on the foundation of Christ is lasting. Let us hope not as the world does but as Jesus taught us.

#ordinarylives