“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Proverbs 13:12
Sometimes I get lost in the practical needs of a situation or the tangible changes that need to take place. I forget about how vital hope is for making it through difficult times. It’s almost as though, because I can’t see it or touch it, I lose sight of how important it is… at which point, it’s only a matter of time until my heart begins to feel sick.
I heard Trevor Noah describe the major unrest we are seeing in America as dominoes being knocked over. Piece by piece the dominoes begin to fall and because of how connected these seemingly separate events/moments actually are, they create a massive wave sending ripples across the nation.
Even though all of this is happening in the U.S., we can certainly sense these waves crashing in on our Canadian context as well. As tempting as it may be to focus on the blaze we see in America, we must remember that the realities of racism are burning steadily here in Canada too.
Which again, is one chunk of many dominoes. We are needing to stay home and navigate life in lockdown-mode, we are experiencing more lay-offs and job loss than most alive in this world have ever seen. Globally.
Selah.
Yesterday, globally, the Church paused to celebrate and reflect on Pentecost Sunday – the day the Spirit of God crashed in on the disciples and earliest followers of Jesus.
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:2-4)
Let’s not be mistaken into believing that the Spirit of God wasn’t entirely active before that moment in history… there are loads of accounts in Scripture that reveal how the Spirit of God inspired and strengthened his people. The difference in what took place on Pentecost, was that ALL of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit began to spread like wildfire throughout Jerusalem.
The Spirit brought first-hand experiences of freedom and empowerment to all believers and continued to inspire and strengthen the people of God… in a way the world had never seen before.
I have needed this reminder of the Spirit of God teaming up with us now more than ever. 1 Peter 1 talks about a Living Hope we have that was made possible through the resurrection of Jesus. An event and moment in history that can never be undone or taken away.
When our hope is based on a triumphant victory over darkness, a victory that can N E V E R be un-won… we begin to feel something stirring within us that cannot be taken away.
Some days our hope will look more like an ember struggling to catch… but that ember is proof of a fire still being alive. Other days that little fire gets stirred right up and before we know it our hope is stoked into a bonfire-sized inferno!
When we remember where our hope truly comes from, dates for re-opening our cities and the plans put in place by the government can change without us being destroyed. When we remember that our hope is a Living Hope, that our hope is truly built on Jesus, we can turn our gaze to look upon the unrest and overwhelming atrocities taking place in our world and know that light will always break through the darkness. Facing any of this without hope will make our hearts sick.
The Spirit of God is alive and well within you. Jesus promised to never leave you and when he couldn’t physically be with you, he sent his very spirit to dwell within you!
May we be people who cling desperately to this Living Hope… not because we’re grasping and scared it will leave, but because He is the fulfillment of every longing we have.
Holy Spirit, thank you for your life-giving presence!
We ask that you would burn in our hearts anew today.
Make your presence known to us in real and tangible ways… and when the practicalities of this life overwhelm us, remind us to pause.
May we be people who do not defer hope or lose sight of all you have done for us, Jesus!
May we be people who celebrate your power and closeness daily.
Stir up our hope God, we need it now more than ever.
Thank you, Lord, for loving us as we wrestle.
Thank you for breathing upon our struggling embers.
We love you so much and long to see your face.
Strengthen and sustain us, Father.
Amen.