Hope

Great Things

Lately, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the truly sad things in the world. Perhaps it’s a sign of maturity to have a greater perspective on how other people are suffering or perhaps it’s a season in life where it seems that more people I know are hurting in real and life-altering ways.  In either case, it’s easy to feel helpless – all the while knowing that I am beseeching the greatest Help on their behalf. The little things that I can do with my own abilities seem inconsequential in light of the deep hurt that they endure.

Yet, I’m reminded that I serve a God who does great things with small offerings. Whether it’s a boy’s lunch miraculously serving thousands, or a widow’s mite that was a testament to true sacrifice, God specializes in using acts of obedience to accomplish far more than they would on their own. Esther’s willingness to approach the king on her uncle’s godly advice brought an evil man to justice and saved a nation. It must have seemed futile to her – yet through it God accomplished much.

So it is with our own acts of obedience. We may not always see how God chooses to use them but we can trust that He is. Not only for the purpose of our growth and pursuit of Him, but for others’ as well. Offering what we have – whether it’s a prayer on someone’s behalf, a home cooked meal, a hospital visit, or an encouraging note – may not seem like much, but God may use it in mighty ways to draw someone to Him. Our concern isn’t the degree to which God will accomplish something through it, but the degree of our obedience. And if we do what He asks we can be assured that He will use it for His purpose.

Our small offerings of faith and obedience may never save a nation like Esther did. Then again, she probably didn’t think hers would either.

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Hope

Always Courageous

Acts of courage seem few and far between. We celebrate bravery perhaps in part because it seems exceptional. People of courage, those who fight even when the battle is not in their favor, those who risk danger in order to do what is right, they are a rarity. As a culture, we are more comfortable with apathy – with being people who don’t make waves, who exude “tolerance” and who stick to their own business. The courageous are those that “interfere” and most often we don’t want to risk exposing our weakness in order to demonstrate courage.

The Christ-follower, however, has no need to let the fears of this world inhibit how we respond – whether in crisis, or in everyday moments. In fact, 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 reminds us that we should always be courageous. Our manner of life should be one that demonstrates strength in the face of adversity, confidence in the midst of uncertainty, and steadiness as we are tossed by life’s waves. In addition, the passage tells us why it is possible for the Christian to do this. It is not because of our own strength or own confidence, but it is because we aren’t looking to this life as the final pronouncement. We know that this world is temporary, but Heaven is eternal. So we can always be courageous here, knowing that whatever the world throws at us, it can not compromise, it can not steal, our eternal destination.

This doesn’t mean that acting courageously is easy. After all, there is still pain and there is still heartache in this life, and those experiences are real. But much like seeing the shore provides those out at sea the confidence of their safe passage, so looking towards Heaven provides us assurance of the better things that lie ahead. And in embracing that, we have the strength to act courageously. Always.

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