My hope is in....

Hope is everything IF you are hoping in the right thing. Many have given up hoping or looking forward to something because they've been disappointed over and over again. They've been let down. It's understandable. When we hope in people or circumstances we may very well be disappointed or let down. 

Marks sermon last week was on Romans 8:17-25. There are several references to hope in that passage. There is also a reference to childbirth. Mark talked about going through all the difficulties and challenges childbirth brings. But in the end, after it is all done, it was worth it because of the precious new life in your arms. 

So I began thinking and talking with others about what gets us through childbirth. Yes, it's the baby at the end but looking back at my own experience it wasn't enough. When I was in the middle of such struggle and intense pain I wasn't always focused on the outcome. There were times when all of a sudden I would experience tunnel vision and all I could do was focus on making it through the next wave of pain. 

In childbirth classes they told me that if I feared the pain or focused solely on the pain, it would hurt worse. Our bodies tense up more, our minds loose focus and we can be overwhelmed by pain. Instead they instruct you to relax and focus on breathing through the pain.  It's very hard to do! BUT they're right. It works. It doesn't make it pain free but it does do something to the level of intensity. 

We all have difficult seasons in life. It's part of living in a broken world. It's inevitable that we will encounter struggles and heartache - much like labor pains. And like labor, some of us have short ones, some seasons are much longer, and some have different complications during them. But we've all been "coached" to not focus solely on the pain of life, the hard circumstances, because it compounds the intensity of the pain. Instead we are to focus on breathing through it - fixing our eyes and thoughts on Christ. And I don't mean thoughts like Jesus fix this/Jesus sell this/Jesus punish them/Jesus give me more money...etc. 

No. Just simply, beautifully, fix our eyes upon Jesus. Look full on His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. 

I was also struck while reading Daniel 3 about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, that they did not hope in what God would do (save them from the fire) but they knew He was able.  Able means having sufficient power, skill or resources to accomplish an object.  Our God is able.  Listen to what they tell King Nebuchadnezzar right before he throws them into the fire.  King N gave them one last chance to obey his command and worship the statue.

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

They knew God is able!  Such courage.  Such faith.  Such perseverance.  Such hope!

Sometimes it's all we can to do breath through the pain. It's so intense that you can't possibly look around and notice life outside your intense situation.  I definitely experienced that in labor. That's okay. There are times like that. Just breath in Jesus. He alone is our Hope.