We are living in an interesting reality right now. With the current pandemic, the upcoming election, and people raging back and forth against each other, it can be so easy to feel let that hopelessness creep in. Right now, our culture is feeling pretty pessimistic about the future, but that doesn’t mean that we have to be.
God hasn’t given up on the future. He delights to give us good things (Matthew 7:11), has prepared a place for us (John 14:2), and will turn the darkest circumstances around for his glory (Romans 8:28). Now don’t misunderstand. Those Scriptural promises aren’t just nice words from people who couldn’t face their reality. They are the inspired words of God.
God created reality. He sees things as they truly are from a perspective of eternity past and future. He sees our circumstances from an Almighty viewpoint. God is not unaware of the difficult reality, but our God still speaks promises of hope over us.
When we are overwhelmed by our reality, we fear and we fight and we try to figure out how to control our circumstances.
God is actually control of our circumstances, and he is not afraid. He is working out his perfect plan in the story of humanity. He already fought for us, died for us on the cross, and rose again in victory. There is nothing we could do to add to that work. Like a small child, “helping” their parents make dinner, we get to be included in the process, but it is God who does the ultimate work.
And our God does not give up.
How do I know that? Because about twenty years ago, God had every reason to give up on me. I was so broken and messed up. If he looked at reality alone, he had every reason to be pessimistic about me. Instead, he looked at me and loved me and believed that his love could redeem me. He was right.
Spoiler: God is never wrong.
I don’t know what you’re facing today, but I know that God has not given up on you, your circumstance, your marriage, your children, or your reality. If he has hope, who are we to tell the Almighty God that he is wrong? He wants to flood us with joy and peace. Who are we to reject the gifts that God wants to give us?
God sees our reality, and he overlays it with his redemption.
Reality without God is depressing, but with him, we are never without hope. God can bring what is dead to life. He is not scared of your reality. We are not supposed to get our perspective from a lost and broken world without hope. We are meant to plant our feet in a broken world, and keep our eyes fixed on the God who promises redemption.
What are you praying for right now? Where are you discouraged in your prayers? Take a moment today and ask for a glimpse of God’s perspective on your reality. Ask to see reality through the lens of his redemption.
With all of our faults and mistakes, God still believes in you and in me. He is completely trustworthy and does not lie. If he says that we can have peace and joy and hope, we can believe him.
Thank you Daniel.