Anchored in Hope

I have read the Bible through many times over the years. It’s always new and fresh no matter how familiar the words become because it is a “living word” (Heb 4:12).  It is also a consistent word. The same God speaks the same truth and the same promises from Genesis to Revelation. This morning God is speaking to me about hope. Because He knows I need it.

I sat down at my desk with my coffee and glanced down at my Bible which was still open where I left off yesterday in Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied about the coming Babylonian invasion when Nebuchadnezzar would take the brightest and best of Jerusalem captive. The first part of Isaiah was a warning of coming judgment, but the latter part is God’s promise of restoration. Chapter 49 specifically declares the return of the captives – and their children – to their home.

One verse drew my attention: “Those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (49:23). I realized that this verse is almost identical to one in the New Testament where Paul talks about “rejoicing in our sufferings” because suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. “And hope does not disappoint us . . .” (Rom 5:3).

I’ve been disappointed with food that looked tasty and wasn’t. I’ve been disappointed by clothes that looked good on the rack but didn’t look good on me. I’ve been disappointed with jobs and politicians (who hasn’t) and even churches. I’ve been disappointed by people many times. But I’ve never been disappointed by hope. At least not when my hope was rightly placed.

Isaiah has the key: “Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” Paul has another: “Hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Hope that is rooted in knowing God and His love is “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Heb 6:19).

You may be dealing with a storm in your personal life. You might be looking at the culture and wondering if you will survive the hurricane of wickedness and evil all around us. You may feel adrift and insecure. You need something strong and sure. Hope is the anchor. God is the Rock. Beloved, that anchor will hold.

God = Love = God

I am a follower of rules. I think it came from growing up as a military kid. There were rules living on base and everyone knew what was expected of them – even us kids. Even now I want to know my role and not have to wonder what I’m supposed to be doing. But even more, I want a way to know if I am measuring up. I want to be able to look at the list and say, I have done everything that is expected of me, therefore I am acceptable. I guess it goes back to my childhood. “Have you made your bed? Have you brushed your teeth? Have you done your homework? Have you finished your chores? Yes? Good job! No? Why are you so lazy? Why don’t you do what you’re supposed to do?” The unspoken words still ring loudly in my head: “You’re only good if you check off all the boxes.”

It’s taken me my whole life to realize that lists are great for work, but they are not the measure of my relationship with God.  Nor are they yours.  God doesn’t love you and me because we follow all the rules and check off all the boxes.  He loves us because He loves us.  Because that is His nature.  John made it very clear in his first letter: “Love comes from God” (1 John 4:7), “God is love” (v. 8, 16), “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us . . .” (v. 10), “We know and rely on the love God has for us” (v. 16), “We love because He first loved us” (v. 19).

 Love originates from God. We would have no love within us if not for God’s love lavished on us (3:1). John added, “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, [our]love is made complete . . .” (vs. 16-17). God’s love is perfect (4:18). It is steadfast (Psalm 118). It is eternal (Psalm 136). It is selfless (John 3:16).

And here’s what is so comforting: you can’t be good enough to make Him love you more and you can’t mess up enough to make Him love you less. He loves you because of who He is. Beloved (see what I called you), the next time you look at your life and wonder if you measure up remember this:  you don’t – but God loves you anyway.

When You Feel Yourself Falling

I lost my balance this morning. I felt myself tilting backward so I aimed for the wall behind me. When my back made contact, I immediately stopped stumbling. I let my body fall against the solid structure of the wall and it held me upright until I could regain my footing. If the wall had not been there, if it had not been a firm edifice, I would have hit the floor and probably caused some bodily damage at my age. I’m so grateful that wall was there for me to lean on.

I was talking to a friend recently about how the world had changed so much in just my lifetime. We’ve seen incredible advances in technology, education, health care, and pretty much every area of life. But we’ve also seen a drastic downturn in morality, responsibility, and integrity. It’s enough to make your head spin – and throw you off-balance. How do you and I regain firm footing in this chaotic environment? Two things come to mind.

Solomon – the great king of wisdom said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight (Prov 3:5-6). To keep our balance you and I must trust in and lean on God. The idea is the same as me leaning into the wall to keep from falling. God is the only secure place to stand when everything around us is in a state of flux. How grateful I am that God does not change (Mal 3:6).

The psalmist declared, “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought Joy to my soul” (Psalms 94:18-19). In all the confusion that surrounds us, there is one constant you and I can trust: God’s love. Just as I leaned against the wall for support, I lean against Him, the one sure and solid force that I can trust. I regain my balance in His goodness, kindness, grace, and never-ending, never-failing, ever-faithful love.

It really is a challenge to stay stable in this unstable world, but it’s not impossible when you lean on and trust in God and His love. Beloved, when the world around you is spinning, nothing and no one is more secure and sure.