Tag Archives: Knowing God

Victorious Living

Our Inheritance with Christ

Knowing who we are

Last week we focused on our spiritual lineage and the important role it plays in both our current and future lives in eternity.  Knowledge and appreciation of our spiritual lineage shape our personal identity and empowers us to accomplish the purpose God has for our life.

God is the source of our spiritual lineage.  We are His seed and the heirs of His promise.  However, we are not only heirs but also “joint heirs” with Christ (Romans 8:17).  What exactly does that mean and how is that part of our spiritual lineage.  Therein lies the basis for our topic today—our inheritance with Christ.

Knowing what we have

If we are to live victoriously and faithfully in this fallen world, we must believe and understand the basis for our success. The source of our victory is the work that was accomplished by Christ on the Cross.

Jesus Christ’s obedient sacrifice resulted in our adoption into the family of God, our reconciliation with God, and most importantly, the forgiveness of our sin (Ephesians 1:5-7).

God’s plan of salvation constitutes the only legitimate means by which we can access our spiritual inheritance.   In Ephesians 2:4-6, the Apostle Paul uses three verbs prefixed by syn- (with) to describe what God has done in and with Christ to obtain our inheritance.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Inheritance provided

First, God “made us alive” (synezoopoiesen) together with Christ Jesus. The King James Version renders “made alive” as “quickened.” We were spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins, but God made us alive (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13).

Regenerated as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are now spiritually alive,  empowered by the Spirit that dwells within us (Romans 8:11).

Next, God “raised us up” (synegeiren) together with Christ Jesus. Just as the omnipotent power of God raised Christ from the dead “physically” on Easter morning (Ephesians 1:19-20), we too have been resurrected “spiritually” with Him.

Being raised from the dead, we now walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), seeking those things from above where Christ is (Colossians 3:1).

Finally, God “made us sit together in the heavenly places” (synekathisen) with Christ Jesus. “Heavenly places” refers to the realm of God’s complete, heavenly domain, from which all His blessings come. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20-21) where He now physically resides. By faith, believers also sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, not physically, but positionally.

This means that as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, we have access to the same blessings or inheritance with Christ. This includes His righteousness, resources, privilege, position and power (Romans 8:16-17).

Inheritance present and future

In Christ Jesus we are not only assured of resurrection and glorification at the end of the age but also the present blessings provided in Christ in His ascended majesty. We thank God who has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13).

We thank God for His plan of salvation that made us alive, raised us up, and made us sit together in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We thank God through Jesus Christ for the inheritance made available for us.

Victorious Living

Our Spiritual Lineage

Who are your people?

Observing the impact of the devolution of family and community, I have renewed appreciation for being privileged to be “shaped” in the 50’s and 60’s by a close-knit community in Kansas called Quindaro.

The thing that most influenced my development was in understanding the importance of family lineage. As we were introduced to the parents of friends and acquaintances in the neighborhood, the first question we were asked was, “Who are your people? Whose family do you belong to?” The inquiry continued until they were satisfied that we were “safe” to associate with their children. Our family lineage became an integral part of our inheritance.

Lineage means a line of descent or ancestry—the people, families, or groups from whom someone or something comes. Simple definition:  Lineage = ancestry or a line of descent.

Unfortunately, we have loss that sense of family lineage and “safety” because of the disruptions of 21st century living and loss of human connectivity.

Our Spiritual Lineage.

Knowledge and appreciation of our spiritual lineage is even more important than our earthly one.  It shapes our identity and empowers our ability to accomplish the purpose God has for our life.

It’s been said that “a person can never rise above who they think they are”.  If you think you are talented, you will perform brilliantly.  If you think you’re worthless, people will treat you insignificantly. Therefore, it is critical that we as believers in Christ understand our spiritual lineage.   According to Galatians 3:29, we are:

    • Abraham’s seed
    • Heirs of God
    • Joint heirs with Christ
    • Heirs of the promise

We were “predestined by God into adoption as children” because of the work accomplished by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5).

Heirs of God.

As heirs of God (Romans 8:17a), we can now experience an intimate, personal relationship with the Father. A joyful existence with God is ours because of His great love for us (1 John 4:9-10).  This includes divine access to God who is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present (Psalms 145:13).

Our purpose becomes the channel through which God’s purpose is fulfilled, and our destiny is inexplicably connected to heaven where Christ now resides (Ephesians 1:10). Our life has eternal value and consequences.

Heirs of Promise.

As heirs of promise, we have received God’s gift of salvation (Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 1:21). This salvation is “realized now” in the deliverance from the penalty and power of sin (Romans 8:1).

This salvation will also be “realized in the future” through eternal life in eternity future with Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:34).  It is here that we will be delivered from the presence of sin. This promise is secured through our faith in Christ–just like Father Abraham (Romans 4:16; Hebrew 11:8-9).

In addition, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we experience the power and presence of God.  This results in love, joy and peace regardless of the circumstances we might face (Philippians 4:6; Galatians 5:22-23).

Our spiritual lineage is a topic that can be explored without ending. While we cannot address all its many aspects and benefits, let us not negate its importance in our daily life.  No higher position or greater wealth can we acquire than becoming heirs of God through our faith in Christ.

The Holy Spirit

Myths, Lies, and Misunderstandings about the Holy Spirit

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Myths, Lies, and Misunderstandings about the Holy Spirit

Danger ahead…MLMs

As we discussed last week, myths, lies, and misunderstandings (MLMs) are dangerous to the spiritual welfare of both believers and nonbelievers.  The best strategy to guard against MLMs is God’s truth.

That truth is available through the Holy Spirit and the Bible.  Because Satan is continually exposed by both, it is not surprising that these two are frequently the subject of many MLMs.

Today, we will share MLMs most often repeated about the Holy Spirit.

Top MLMs about the Holy Spirit

Though not exhaustive, here are my top MLMs concerning the Holy Spirit.  The source of this list are frequent questions I have received concerning the third person of the Trinity.

Myth: “The Holy Spirit is for Super Christians.  He is not for everyone.”

Unfortunately, this myth has been around for quite some time due to religious and denominational differences.  The devastating result of this myth is that people question whether they are indwelled by the Holy Spirit.  In addition, this myth gives the perception that Christians receive the Holy Spirit based on their merit.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, Jesus gifts us with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:14).  While we can’t control the Holy Spirit, we can, however, hinder His work.  We can quench the Holy Spirit by refusing His guidance or grieve Him by continuing to do sinful acts.

As we surrender our will to God’s will, we will receive greater filling by the Spirit.  “Filling” means we empty ourselves of self and make room for MORE of HIM.  This results in the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and conforming to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

Lie: “The Holy Spirit is actually our inner spirit guiding us on the path to our true purpose and destiny.”   

It’s a path alright.  A path to nowhere. This is perhaps the most egregious lie designed by the devil.  It denies the reality of God.  Satan’s MO is to always have man look to himself as the primary source of power and control.  This is a “self-directed” belief (lie) that keeps people from coming to the “glorious gospel of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

This strategy of Satan is intended to keep us bound, broken, and discouraged.  We fail to reach God’s designed purpose for our lives.  Why?  Because we attempt to do what only God can do through His Holy Spirit in us (John 15:5; Ephesians 3:20).

Misunderstanding:  “The Holy Spirit is like an angel that God sends to help people.”

This belief reflects a lack of understanding of who God is and the work of the Trinity.  First and foremost, God is one God with three distinct, eternal, coexistent persons.  God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1).  Jesus, who is God’s only begotten Son is also God.  And finally, the Holy Spirit, who is God’s Spirit is also God.

Regarding these three manifestations of our one, God, we must recognize their distinctions, but not separate them from one another. We will never understand all that God wants us to know about him without having full knowledge of each representation of him. [1]

Without a correct knowledge of God, we risk “being tossed to and fro by every wind of new teaching and influence, when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth” (Ephesians 4:14, NLT).  The best approach to deal with MLMs is to know the truth.   Be alert to myths, lies, and misunderstandings that threaten our walk of faith.

Next week we will focus on MLMs pertaining to the Bible.

[1] Lead Me, Holy Spirit:  Longing to Hear the Voice of God, Stormie Omartian

Knowing God

Guarding Against Error: Myths, Lies, and Misunderstandings

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Myths, Lies, and Misunderstandings

Living in the 21st century requires that we be diligent and equip ourselves with correct information (Proverbs 4:7).  This guards us against error, especially, with regard to our spiritual beliefs.

Error often presents itself in the form of myths, lies, and misunderstandings (MLMs).  This includes what we know about the  God and and His purpose for our lives.  Today we will examine MLMs and how they can negatively impact our ability to have a correct view of God.

MLMs—the what and the why?

Myths, lies, and misunderstandings can be credited to many different things.

  • Myths are widely held but false beliefs or ideas. Myths are upheld to misrepresent the truth and to maintain certain beliefs.
  • Lies are statements that one knows are false, with the intent to deceive.
  • Misunderstandings stem from a failure to understand something correctly. A misunderstanding can be caused by an incorrect conception or a misinterpretation. It can also be mistakes of meaning or intent.

Myths and misunderstandings can be attributed to a general lack of knowledge.  Even within our churches, discussions on the Holy Trinity are limited.  Congregations need to be better informed on our relationship with each member of the God Head and how each of them impacts our lives.

Lies, of course, can be assigned to the father of lies, Satan.  Satan has done an excellent job in intentionally deceiving people about who God is.  We tend to make God smaller than He really is, to fit our human view.  We compare our limited abilities with God’s infinite power.  We do this to justify our decisions and behaviors (Jeremiah 17:9).

God is the true source for victorious living.  It is in Him that we live and breathe and have our meaning (Acts 17:28).  Our personal relationship with God provides us with courage and hope amid our struggles.    It strengthens our faith and points us to the One who will sustain us in the most difficult of times.  Therefore, we are able to persevere and do not “faint” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

How to deal with MLMs?

What is the best approach to deal with myths, lies, and misunderstandings?  Seek out and know the truth through spiritual discernment.  The primary source of that truth is the Bible.  The Holy Spirit leads us in all truth (John 16:13).

In this postmodern era, relativism offers the view that there is no absolute truth; truth is relative based on individual perceptions and considerations. Satan uses this thinking to continue his campaign to “blind our eyes” about God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:4).

We must seek truth in all we do and boldly denounce MLMs that keep others in darkness (Ephesians 5:11).  Myths, lies, and misunderstandings intent is always the same:  to deceive, mislead, and misrepresent.

For the next few weeks we will explore  other MLMs that  lead us to spiritual error and away from God’s truth.

Spiritual Renewal

Defending the Abundant Life

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Who stole our abundant life: Recap

In our early discussions on abundant living, we acknowledged the forces that vie for our attention and inevitably drain us of living the abundant life promised to us, by Jesus in John 10:10.  These forces are described as thieves that creep into our lives to “steal, kill, and destroy”:  to steal our peace, to kill our hope, and to demolish our lives.

 Abundant life, offered by Jesus, is a life vigorously devoted to and in personal relationship with God and with others (John 15:4-5)).   Abundant life offers spiritual freedom and eternity with God to those who put their trust in Christ (John 3:16).

We concluded that abundant life is only possible through the leading (filling) of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The result?  Life lived “in the presence of, under the authority of, to the honor and glory of God. (Coram Deo)

To close the study on abundant living, let’s detail three key threats to our abundant life.

The Thieves

God’s Word warns us of three “thieves” that have operated in the world since its creation and continue with extraordinary success today.  They are the areas that are responsible for the demise of not only individuals but also families and nations.

These thieves have mastered the art of seduction and deception.  They use not only our personal weaknesses against us (Hebrew 12:1) but also information gleaned from social media and digital platforms.  The three thieves attempt to stand between us and God.  Their intent? To damage our relationship.  To stop, block, and damage our source of abundance, which is God alone.    They create breaches in our spiritual wall that result in the lack of God’s abundance.  These thieves are the world, Satan, and our flesh.

The World and Satan

As followers of Christ, abundant life is not dependent on the world’s view of abundance.  While God blesses us with provision and favor in this life, we are not dependent on the things offered by the world for our needs.

The world attempts to dictate our identity based on computer algorithms and logic versus our identity in Christ. (Galatians 2:20) The world demands our attention and fosters the belief that our best life centers on wealth, power and influence.  The world draws us away from the true source of all our needs (John 15:5).

What can we say about Satan?  He does sin very well.  He is a master of deception and lies.  It is his intention to keep us as far away from God and the truth as possible.

One way He does that is by developing “counterfeits” to the real things that are possible only through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  (2 Corinthians 11:14-15; 1 John 4:1)

Satan rarely invents; he imitates and corrupts. God offers truth; Satan substitutes deception. God offers life; Satan promises life but produces death. God offers eternal joy; Satan offers fleeting pleasure with lasting consequences. The Holy Spirit gives discernment so we believers can recognize the difference.

Our Flesh

The quote “We have met the enemy and he is us.” is most famously attributed to Walt Kelly, creator of the comic strip Pogo, written for a 1971 Earth Day poster. Kelly’s quote pointed to the source of many of our problems—our actions, attitudes, and choices. Our flesh controls those actions, attitudes, and choices.

Awareness of our flesh’s weakness is offered in passages such as:

      • Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
      • James 4:1 – “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”
      • Romans 7:18 – “I know that in me dwelleth no good thing.”

Our flesh’s desire to satisfy our needs (versus God’s will) result in disobedience and sin (1 John 2: 88).  We can’t blame everything of the world and Satan.  Sometimes the enemy is “in me.”

Defending God’s Gift of Abundant Life

How do we defend our abundant life?  Short list.

      1. Grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)
      2. Pursue and maintain an intentional, intimate walk with Jesus. (James 4:8)
      3. Be filled (obedient) with the Holy Spirit. (John 10:27)

Meditate on the scriptures cited on the short list.  Begin implementing the offered  solutions in your life.  Then watch God’s abundance flow freely into your life.

Spiritual Renewal

Seeking Abundant Living

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Seeking an abundant life?

What is abundant life? In Hebrew, abundance or abundant, range in meaning from “blessings” (the good things one is blessed with) to “plenty and much”.   Under the Mosaic covenant, God promised that obedience would bring rich material blessings to God’s people.  (Deuteronomy 30:9-10) It was there that man viewed abundance as material wealth, riches, and possessions.  This is also the world’s view of abundance.  Abundant living follows as a natural consequence of material possessions.

These “negative” aspects of the kingdom run counter to a heresy that is gaining ground around the world, the so-called “prosperity” gospel. A growing number of false teachers are gathering followers under the message “God wants you to be rich!” But that philosophy is not the counsel of the Bible—and it is certainly not the counsel of Matthew 6:33, which is not a formula for gaining wealth. It is a description of how God works. Jesus taught that our focus should be shifted away from this world—its status and its lying allurements—and placed upon the things of God’s kingdom.[1]

Seeking worldly success?

Why do we seek material abundance?  It is an indicator of our identity with personal success and standing.  While I’m not saying anything is wrong with material abundance, I only caution our pursuit and dependence on it to validate who we are.

Jesus cautioned in Luke 12:15 that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.  Using this warning as an introduction to the parable of the rich fool, Jesus concludes with this sad observation for those who seek physical abundance.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things stored up, [enough] for many years; rest and relax, eat, drink and be merry (celebrate continually)”.   But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’  So it is for the one who continues to store up and hoard possessions for himself and is not rich [in his relationship] toward God.”  (Luke 12:19-21, Amplified)

What hinders our abundant life?

How do we know if we’re truly seeking God’s kingdom first? There are questions we can ask ourselves. “Where do I primarily spend my energies? Is all my time and money spent on goods and activities that will certainly perish, or in the service of God—the results of which live on for eternity?” Believers who have learned to truly put God first may then rest in this holy dynamic: “…and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Finding abundant life.

Abundant living is only possible through the leading (filling) of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  Abundant living is everything we need to reclaim our lives—balance, energy, peace, simplicity, and happiness.

Abundant living differs from worldly success by focusing on spiritual fulfillment through love, joy, peace, and purpose rather than financial prosperity or personal gain. Biblical characteristics of abundant life include love, joy, peace, purpose, growth, freedom, and hope, all stemming from a relationship with God.

Like the rich fool, we will be disappointed if we place our focus on the world’s view of abundant living.  For life to truly be enjoyed, it will be through our personal relationship with God.  God is more than our sufficiency.  He is our Great Reward. (Genesis 15:1; Matthew 5:12)

[1] Got Questions, “What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God?”

Spiritual Maturity

Our Search for Truth

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Our Search for Truth

 

Truth by whose reality?

What is truth?  Truth is defined by Webster as that which agrees with reality. But whose reality do we, as believers, adhere to?   With all the political rhetoric, contentious debates, and social bantering, we need truth.  Behind the social messaging, news bytes and sound bits, is the world we live in redefining “what truth is and what it isn’t”.

What’s your truth source?

In decades past, people could depend on the media to communicate the “truth”.   Newspapers, magazine publications and newscasters were committed to operating at the highest ethical standards.  We could depend upon our local leaders—civic or religious—to offer us truth. But over time that has changed.

The sources of truth and information in the 21st century are growing exponentially and based on the “issue of the day”.  They represent many diverse voices and views. Decentralized digital platforms and social media offer opinions based on varying perspectives and preferences: personal, political, or popular.

Rapidly influencing our daily life is artificial intelligence (AI) and digital knowledge systems which people use to provide answers for their special situations and life, in general.  While AI provides access to vast amounts of information quickly, users may tend to over trust automated answers which could contain errors.   Could our dependency on AI have addictive consequences?

Why is Truth Important?

It is important because life has consequences for being wrong. Giving the wrong amount of a medication to someone can kill them.  Having an investment manager make the wrong monetary decisions can impoverish a family.  Boarding the wrong plane will take you where you didn’t want to go.

As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias put it, “The fact is, the truth matters—especially when you’re on the receiving end of a lie.” And nowhere is this more important than in the areas of faith and religion. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.

The Apostle Paul warned the young minister Timothy of the dangers that awaited him as new converts would “turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).  It is important that we have a real-time, reliable, and trustworthy source to help us ferret out truth in the world.

Connecting with Truth

Believers face a major challenge to walk in biblical truth while living in a postmodern world.   Especially when that truth is measured against the authority of Scripture and the lordship of Jesus Christ.

As believer’s are reality is grounded in God.  We no longer follow the worldview—its influence was negated by the Blood.  Our meaning and reality is now realigned with God (2 Corinthians 5:15).   While there are many proposed definitions of the truth,  there can only be one

 More than ever before it is critical that we connect with the only True Source of Truth, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior (John 14:6).  God’s Word and the Spirit of Truth stand ready to silence the lies, myths and fables we might hear (2 Timothy. 4:3-4).  It is God’s truth that will guide our behaviors and our responses in this fallen world. God is the only source of truth for our lives.  More next week as we search for truth.

Our Faith Walk

Hope that Won’t Disappoint

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Keep Hope Alive: True Hope

What we’ve learned about hope.

The believer’s audacity for hope is made possible by knowledge of God (Psalm 16:11), by continuous abiding in Christ (John 15:5) and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our audacity or boldness is built on a sure foundation based on the fidelity and faithfulness of God.  It is established on the immutability of His word (Hebrews 6:17-18), the certainty of His promise (Romans 4:16) and the assurance of His presence (Romans 15:13).  This is what gives us the ability to persevere.

This boldness leads us to our faith response to the challenges and trials of 21st century living.  Our faith becomes a key ingredient with hope to offer us peace, guidance, and unwavering hope.  It provides us with strength and solace in time of uncertainty.  This is true not because we are “optimistic”, but we believe that God is truly in control regardless of the circumstances we face.

Together, our audacity and faith results in our recognition and acknowledgement that God and God alone is the true source of our hope (Psalm 62:5-12).  A true hope that never disappoints.

Hope and the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path forward and guiding believers toward the fulfillment of God’s promises.  The Holy Spirit instills hope in believers by:

  • Reassurance of God’s Love: The Holy Spirit pours God’s love into the hearts of believers, providing a steadfast foundation for hope. This love is unconditional and everlasting, providing security and assurance even in the face of trials and tribulations. (Romans 5
  • Guiding and Strengthening Faith: The Holy Spirit strengthens believers’ faith, enabling them to trust in God’s promises and plans. This faith is the source of hope, as it allows believers to anticipate God’s goodness and believe in the fulfillment of His promises. (Hebrews . 11:1)
  • Empowering for Perseverance: The Holy Spirit empowers believers with resilience and perseverance, enabling them to endure challenges and maintain hope amid difficulties. This empowerment allows believers to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward towards God’s purpose. (Galatians 5:22-23)
  • Revealing God’s Plan: The Holy Spirit unveils God’s plan and purpose for believers’ lives, providing a clear direction and motivation for hope. This understanding of God’s plan instills hope for the future, as believers see how their present struggles fit into God’s overarching design. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
  • Interceding in prayer: The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers in prayer, expressing their deepest yearnings and hopes to God. This intercession ensures that believer’s hopes are aligned with God’s will and that their prayers are heard and answered. (Romans 8: 26-27).

The Holy Spirit becomes a source of strength and resilience, enabling believers to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and anticipation of God’s goodness.

 Hope that won’t disappoint.

For hope that is real in our life, it is important that we intentionally claim that which Christ has obtained for us through His sacrificial death and powerful resurrection.  Through Jesus’ sacrificial gift of life, we have a hope that “does not” and “will not” disappoint.

 Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (Romans 5:1-5)  

Bottomline, God’s hope won’t disappoint.  His hope is the only guarantee of security and assurance even in the face of trials and tribulations.  HE IS the steadfast foundation for hope. (Hebrew 6:17-19)

For hope that won’t disappoint, hold fast to  “the God of hope [who will] fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”  (Romans 15:13, Amplified)

Our Faith Walk

Hope: Our 21st Century Faith Response

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Keep Hope Alive: The God of Hope

 

How do we describe hope?

What metaphors do we use to express hope?  How do we encourage others to believe “there’s a path to good” even in bad times?   Here are a few we might have used.

  • “There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
  • “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
  • “The sun is peeking through the clouds.”
  • “Hope is an eternal flame.”

But let’s be honest, when we’re at the “end of our rope” and the “bottom of our world has fallen out”, metaphors about hope will not help us. We are looking for something that will ease our troubled souls right now!

Who needs hope?

According to the American Psychological Association [1], we all need hope.

A majority of adults (62%) disagree with the statement, “our children are going to inherit a better world than we did,” and 63% disagree with the statement, “I feel our country is on the path to being stronger than ever.” More than 3/4 of adults (76%) said that the future of our nation is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 68% said this is the lowest point in our nation’s history that we can remember. 

 Two in three adults (66%) said the culture’s current political climate is a significant source of stress in their lives. Further, three in five adults quote (60%) said that the current social divisiveness in the nation causes them stress. Slightly more than three in five adults 62% reported that the racial climate in the US is a significant source of stress in their lives.

Are these sources of stress going to go away?  Absolutely not!  And these stressors are larger than us and out of our control.  In this environment, we are also expected to manage the challenge of daily living and providing for our families: feeding, clothing, and housing.  We search out ways to balance the stresses of life while maintaining healthy relationships, and personal “sanity”.   We need to cultivate our hope because when we cease to hope, we jeopardize our future.

The worldview of hope

Hope has ALWAYS been something we humans have needed whether in ancient times or modern days.  Man’s ability to survive and thrive has been dependent on hope.  The challenge, however, continues to be our ability to identify the BEST SOURCE of HOPE.

Hope, from the world’s view, comes from a variety of sources that, when combined and strengthened, provide a foundation for optimism, resilience, and the pursuit of a meaningful and fulfilling life.  These include the following which we most commonly use.

 Relationships and connections: human connections and strong relationships provide a sense of belonging, support, and love, fostering hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

 Personal strengths and abilities: recognizing and utilizing one’s strengths and abilities instills confidence and a sense of empowerment, nurturing hope for achieving goals and overcoming challenges.

 Meaning and purpose: finding meaning and purpose in life, whether personal interest, family, community, or spiritual beliefs, provides a sense of direction and motivation, fueling hope for our fulfillment and meaningful existence.

 Spiritual beliefs and faith: for many, spiritual beliefs and faith in a higher power offer a sense of peace, guidance, and unwavering hope, providing strength and solace in time of uncertainty.

We do these things to cope and to relieve the uncertainty we face daily.  Like the television therapist, Dr. Phil, might ask, “how’s that working for you?”  Consider adding to this list: The God of Hope.

The  God of Hope

We often become discouraged when the things we do in our human strength fail to improve our situation.  We are stressed because when we look around there is “no light at the end of the tunnel” nor is the “sun peeking through the clouds.”

The reality we must come to grips with is that we live in a fallen world, where sin will continue to manifest itself in the brokenness and pain we see today.  Injustice, wars, corruption, and much more.  BUT THERE IS HOPE.

Our hope is built on the faithfulness and dependability of God.  We must rely on the “fidelity” of God.  God is reliable, dependable, and faithful.  God is true, truthful, and trustworthy.  His Word and His promises provide the “blessed assurance” we need to not only survive but also thrive in this world.   He is our sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5).

What is our faith response to the challenges of 21st century living?  We must recognize and acknowledge that God alone is the true source of our hope (Psalms 62:5-12).

[1]   Stress in America 2022, American Psychological Association.

Our Faith Walk

The Audacity of Hope, Part 2

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The Psychology of Hope

Why do we need hope?

From the tenuous bonds that connect us with one another, to the ever-present vulnerability we share as humans in a chaotic world, our lives are forever saturated in the possibility of catastrophe. Bad things— often tragic things like accidents, illness, and untimely death—happen to people every single day. We know this, yet we are tasked with finding ways of moving forward in a world where nothing is guaranteed.[1]

How then do we move forward?  We look for hope—the expectation that things will get better.  Hope is important because it helps us to cope with stress and anxiety, manage adversity, and improve our well-being and happiness.  Hope is not always easy to find, but it is always worth seeking. It is the light that guides us through the darkness, and it gives us the strength to keep going even when things are tough.

Hope by any other name.

Hope is defined as an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes.  Its synonyms include optimism and anticipation.  The opposite of hope includes hopelessness and despair.

Hope is included as one of the three theological virtues mentioned in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth.  “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, KJV).  To the church at Thessalonica, Paul acknowledges the saints for “their work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1Thessalonica 1:3).

When we use the word hope in casual conversation, we often do so in a doubtful manner.  However biblical hope is never “doubt-filled”.  It is built upon a confident expectation of a future fulfillment based on God’s Word and God’s promises.

We can only hope!

Hope is both a feeling and a motivation. A powerful force for good in our lives. It can help us cope with difficult times and to persevere in the face of challenges.  It has been described as a shield, a path, and a powerful protector.  This is especially true when we face life-threatening illnesses or insurmountable challenges in our lives.

Hope is a complex emotion that is critical for the times in which we find ourselves.  As we embrace the belief that better days are possible, we are motivated to continue moving forward.  It is exactly what is needed to persevere during these difficult times.  With hope, we can find ways to oppose the dread of life’s dangers.  Hope is critical to our future, both individually and collectively, as a society.   Therein lies the reason we must continue to hope.

Hope as an anchor of the soul.

Hope will sustain us during difficult times.  The writer of Hebrews depicted hope as an anchor.  It was a familiar object that would illustrate God’s strong attachment to us.  This anchor was “sure and steadfast”.

Sure is interpreted to mean “something that can be relied upon”.  Steadfast continues this thought of God’s hope.  It adds the descriptors of “trustworthy, firm and secure”.   The anchor represents the Object of our faith who is Jesus Christ.  Jesus has secured our position for eternity—past, present, and future.

Hope in God continues to be the message that will sustain us today in these troubling times. Our hope is based on the immutability of His word (Hebrews 6:17-18), the certainty of His promise (Romans 4:16) and the assurance of His presence (Romans 15:13).

It is this hope that gives us confidence and the ability to persevere. Our audacity of hope is built on a sure foundation based on the fidelity and faithfulness of God.

Next week, we will explore hope as our faith response to the challenges of 21st century living.

[1]  Hope: Why it matters, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, July 16, 2021