Hope in the Midst of Hard

It’s usually at the tail end of the year, we begin to ponder the theme of that year- what we have learned, what we experienced, and what we hope for the next year. To be honest, it’s not been my favorite year. Reflecting back, it wasn’t just one hard moment but lots of difficult seasons streaming into more difficult seasons. In comparison to a cancer diagnosis, major surgeries, loss of a loved one, etc.- it pales, maybe even feels silly. But, it was a marathon nonetheless of unpleasantries.

We seemed to stay in the trenches of sickness, have many large, unexpected financial hits, stress at work, stress in the home and within relationships. Of course it wasn’t all hard, but the overarching feel was bumpy.

My responses to these unpleasant times were not always the best or God-honoring. I can often times turn to self pity, irritation or just a flat out bad attitude. When I finally chose to listen, I heard God whisper to my heart, “How long are you going to have to keep repeating these same problems until you finally learn the lesson?” I remember one day while sitting in my garage crying out to God in my frustration, I felt him quiet me by simply telling me to change my reaction to the situations. Learn the lesson and let’s move on.

Have you ever felt that you couldn’t seem to get out of the same scenario? But realized you hadn’t learned the lesson or changed your response to the situation? I think we are all guilty of it! We don’t take the time to look up and out of the current situation to see the tapestry God is weaving. Or, to consider- “hey, what could God be trying to teach me right now?”

Job’s Example in Hard Times

Most of us are familiar with the story of Job from the Bible. He was described as blameless and upright. He feared God and happened to also be very well off. Well, in a very short period of time, God allowed Satan to inflict a series of horrible things on Job. He lost all his livestock, children, servants, and was afflicted with horrible sores from his head to his feet. His wife approached him and said, “”Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”” Job 2:9-10

This man, who lost everything, and was sick, was able to have a righteous perspective. But, in my commonplace difficulties, I coil back and think I don’t deserve them. This was the turning point. The moment I realized if Job can still praise God and accept the horrible, hard things that God allowed to come his way. So can I. He knew that God was sovereign and he was not. His perspective wasn’t on himself, but on what He knew God could do. Job believed that God could, in a moment, turn it around and use it for good. Because that is what he does.

What we actually deserve from God is eternal punishment because of our sin. But, what we get is eternal life because of his great mercy through Jesus Christ. So, anything else that comes our way is “light and momentary” (2 Cor. 4:17) in comparison to the eternal grace we have been given. We should open handedly accept what God allows as we truly are owed nothing from him. Despite what we may foolishly believe. (I need to say this to myself on repeat.)

Hope in the Waiting

Throughout the unpleasant times this year, we have had moments of joy and hope pop through. We found out we are pregnant with our fourth child, which is a dream come true for me. I felt so seen and heard by God when I saw that pink line appear on the pregnancy test. The truth of this proverb rang true for me, “Hope deferred makes a heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12

God has perfectly positioned us in a time of expectant hope. We are looking to him for what he will do. We know there are situations that hinge on him moving and we know he is the one orchestrating them. So, we wait, and trust.

I can’t help but think of the expectant hope that the baby Jesus brought to the world. Years of silence and hardships separated the Israelites from their promised King, and I imagine they had lost perspective and hope. But, in the least expected way, in the midst of darkness, God brought forth his Son. The One who would turn it all around. The One who would redeem the hard.

Conclusion

The take away for me after the lessons I’ve learned is to change my perspective. I learned to fight spiritual battles with prayer, fasting and quite literally praying out loud over every space in my home. I learned to be thankful for the hard, because I can know that God is not done working in me. I learned to look up with expectant hope of how God will redeem the situation. There is no greater position to be in, than one where the next move cannot be predicted by you, but must absolutely come from God. Then, you can take your hands off the wheel and watch what HE DOES.