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Summer 2006
More thoughts on "Hope"... * I "hope" (in the English language sense of the word) to come back to this article, proof read it and add to it, (still in the rambling stage) but I wanted to at least get a few of my thoughts written out.
while we go through adversity, "endurance" will/can produce "hope". (Romans 5:4) "Hope" is not just wishful thinking, it's a deep assurance that God will keep His word inspite of how things look. To me, endurance, is more like the phase where you are covering up, just trying to get through the challenges of the day while in crisis mode. God will not only give us the supernatural strength to endure the hard times, he can bring us to the place of deep HOPE. This does not mean that all our problems go away, but that our faith is increased. Inner termoil is released as we "Come to the Lord", "yoke up" (Matthew 11:28-29) to the strong one, and then learn to be meek and gentle. By resting in the Lord, we learn what our responsibilities are and what are God's. I can think of at least three categories that we should not worry about but turn over to the Lord: 1) Those situations that our outside of our control. 2) The pressures or others thrust upon you but it is not in God's plan for you to rescue them. In Urban Ministry it took me a while to learn this. God wants us to be compassionate and sacrificially help those whom he puts across our path. However wisdom must also be applied. Sometimes God wants that person in need to learn to lean upon Him or to be motivated to make some change in their life. I believe believe Paul speaks of this in Galations 5. In verse 2 he says we should bear each others burden and then in verse 5 he says that everyone should bear their own burden. The original language sheds some oight on this. The first instance refers to a huge load - something so big that the person can not handle themself. Like the good Sameritan, we need to rally around those who are knocked down and unable to get up on their own. The second mention speaks of a lighter load that can be eaisily carried. Those situation should be carried by the invidual. I think a good way of looking at is not taking responcibility for something that God wants the individual to carry themself. Some issues God wants an individual to handle themselves (or to look to Him for help) and not to us. An example if we continually bail out and resque someone who problems stem from wrong choices, there will be no motivation for them to change. Of course this does not mean that we should give or do acts of kindness for those who's problems stem from wrong choices. They need to see God's love in action, the key is not to intervine and allow them to place their responsibilities upon yourself. There have been times that I foolishly borrowed money to meet someone's need when what I should have just prayed and turned it over to the Lord. There has also been times when I've had people argue with me trying to tell me that their need was legitamate. I've had to share that just because it is a legitamit does does not mean I owe it to them. We must notc become enablers... 3) The pressures we pick up unneceessarily for the wrong motives - trying to please man instead at being content just to do your best and leave the results to God... Instead of worrying about how we can fix things (that are not our responcibility to fix) with our limited strength, power, and resources, we trust and rest in the Lord. When we come to the place of "Hope" we are freed from the stress of thinking WE need to do those things that are His responsibility. We humbly do our part. In prayer and supplication we turn everything else over to the Lord. We find rest as we "Be Still" and trust our savior through the storms of life. How often do we bring unnecesary stress to our lives by lifting up burdens, responsibilites, or expectations that ultimately are not ours. We have ultimately only one master - the Lord. Life in this sin cursed world has enough challenges of its own, let's cast our burdens on the Lord and leave them there...
If you have thoughts or comments or would like to add to this article, drop me a note:
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