From Pity to Praise

In these uncertain times, the concept of hope becomes more crucial than ever. It is a powerful force, sustain life, even in the worst circumstances while the outcomes we hoped for are not guaranteed, the act of hoping itself is a testament to our resilience and strength.

Everything can be taken from a person, but one thing, the last of the human freedoms is to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances. It is not contingent on external events, but rather on our internal resolve and perspective. Hope requires a desire for a specific outcome, a rejection of any other possibility, and a belief in the eventual realization of that hope.

There are a few days that go by without using the word hope. “I hope we’re on time, I hope it doesn’t rain, I hope they will understand, I hope God hears me.”

From the smallest concerns to the grandest ones, our lives are shaped, directed, motivated, and frustrated by hope. Everyone hangs their hope on something or someone. Everyone hopes their hope will come through. No one ever purposely hopes for what is hopeless. Everyone belongs to hope that’s for sure. Everyone gets up in the morning, motivated by hope in some kind of way or they’re paralyzed by hopelessness of some kind.

For every one of us, hoping it is so natural and frequent that we lose sight of how significant it is in shaping what we do, how we do it, and how we feel in the process. Even though it’s natural, and we do it all the time, hope is painfully elusive for many.

Hope always has three elements: desire, object, and expectation.

The Bible holds a narrative of hope shattered and hope restored.

Hope is always fueled by some form of desire. It may be a desire to be loved, to be cared for, to be protected, to be understood, to be provided for, to be accepted, to experience comfort, or pleasure, to have control, and to be forgiven -the list could go on and on. And hope always has an object. We always look for someone or something to satisfy our desires. Lastly, hope carries an expectation of when, how, and where the person or thing in which we have placed our hope will deliver what we have hoped for.

Almost every day, we trust our smallest and largest hopes into the hands of something or someone with the hope that our belongings will be satisfied.

The Bible holds a narrative of Hope shattered and hope restored, and in telling its hope story, the Bible speaks to each of the three elements of hope.

Scripture has much to say about our longings, the desires that inspire us and shape our lives. It tells us what to love and what to hate, what to desire, and what to forsake, what is good for us and what will harm us. Much of the drama of hope in our lives comes not because we don’t get what we hoped for, but because we spend so much of our time, hoping for the wrong things.

We live with a singleness of hope. Whether, it is life shaped, structured, and directed by the pursuit of being glorious or heart-satisfying. A worldly hope is a picture of a constantly changing narrative of fickle affections hurling us from one hope to the next.

I like to always keep in mind Psalm 27:4, during difficult circumstances. It says, “One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, to see the Lord’s beauty, and to inquire in His temple.” And Psalm 27:5 goes on to say, “For in. The day of trouble, He will keep me secretly in His pavilion. In the secret place of His tabernacle, He will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.”

Those are incredible statements, one that I am not sure I can always make. These statements are even more powerful when we realize that it was written by a man who was under attack. His one thing isn’t safety, or vindication or victory. His one thing isn’t control or retribution. Even under personal duress, the one thing that David wishes for is to be in God’s house, taking in the splendor and glory of the beauty of the Lord.

This desire was designed to beat the central motoring desire of every person created by God and made in His image. And yet, on this side of eternity, it seems like a statement that could only ever be made a deeply devout human being.

And in every situation in the relationships of our everyday life, there is a war being fought on the turf of our hearts that controls our actions. Yet many things compete with us for what our heart craves.

The Bible also has much to say about the object of our hope. It reminds us that, when it comes to hope, there are only two places to look. We can look to created thngs to satisfy the longings of our hearts, or we can look to our Creator.

I think when it comes to a foundational, human hope, each of us looks either horizontally or vertically. The Bible warns us that if our hope disappoints us, it’s because our hope rests on the wrong object. There is only one place to look for hope that is secure, no matter what.

Here are a few scriptures I stand on in difficult circumstances

Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my hiding place, and my shield, I hope in Your Word.” And Psalm 130:7 says, “Hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love

Romans 5:5 “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Scripture also speak to our expectations. It promises us that, when we hope in the Lord, we will not be disappointed. God won’t submit to our time expectations, and He won’t always deliver what we hoped for and the way we expect, but He will always care for those who trust in Him. He will give us everything He has promised us, and He will generously provide what is best for us. So, we can wait in patient expectation, knowing that our hope is firm when we hope in the Lord.

Many of us struggle with the questions of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love, not because He has been unfaithful to any promise in any way, but because we simply are not on His agenda page. Our agenda, our definition of what is good, God should give us. James 1:2-4 tells us, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The Bible is a message that is consistent. God is not working to deliver us from our personal definition of happiness. If we are not on that agenda page, we are going to be disappointed with God, and we’re going to wonder if He loves us. God is after something better, our holiness, the final completion of His redemptive work, which includes deep and abiding happiness with Him. The difficult physical face are not the way of God’s plan, they do not show the failure of God’s plan, and they are not signs He has turned His back on us. But God will use difficult times for His perfect plan.

It’s wonderful that we have hope that doesn’t rise and fall with our changing circumstances, it’s a sweet thing to have hope that doesn’t die when trouble comes. It’s good to be free from placing our hope in objects that have no power to deliver what we long for. And it’s wise to spend time examining what we hope for, reorienting our hope, and meditating on the one who alone is worthy of our hope.

The world is comfortable with believers that are sweet, quiet and agreeable.

It gets uncomfortable when following Jesus requires us to say something unpopular.

In Matthew 5:13 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

Don’t lose your saltiness.

Don’t become so concerned with fitting in, keeping everyone comfortable, and earning approval that you lose the distinctiveness Jesus called you to have.

That doesn’t mean believers should be harsh, arrogant, combative unnecessarily offensive.

The Bible tells us to speak with grace.

Colossians 4:6 tells us, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Grace and truth.

Love and conviction.

Compassion without compromise.

For us, that means speaking openly about what God has taught us about faith, health, marriage, family, and home, even when those convictions are unpopular.

Not everyone has to live exactly like we do. Not because we have everything figured out. Not because controversy is the goal.

But because there are moments when staying silent to remain agreeable means hiding what God has called us to share.

Sometimes love encourages, comforts, or warns. Sometimes love tells the truth someone doesn’t want to hear.

Jesus did not call us to blend in so well with the world that no one can tell the difference.

He called us salt.

We need to take Hebrews 5:13 as a command to know our assignment.

Speak with grace.

Walk in humility

Love people deeply

But do not lose our saltiness trying to earn everyone’s approval.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which man took, and sowed in his field, which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches” -Hebrews 13:31-32

Have you ever thought about your faith being a living growing thing? God has a destination for our faith. There is a kind of faith that God hates, and there is a kind of faith that God loves. Each of us have been given a measure of faith, and we must realize what we have done with it.

The book of Matthew tells us a story of a situation, where Jesus’s disciples could not deliver a young boy from a demon spirit. Jesus called them faithless. He only gave them one reason that boy had not been delivered.

It was not because of his parents, sins, or the boys sins, but because it was their unbelief.

When jumping out of an airplane, a skydiver is not sure where he will land. He has to have a measure of faith.

The problem with too many of us today is that we are afraid to try our faith. We try to play it safe and secure. I think we fear trying our faith today because culture prizes absolute certainty and public perfection over personal vulnerability. The world mocks deep spiritual beliefs and people worry about backlash from their friends or co-workers.

Mustard seeds turn into trees of maximum height of 21 feet tall, which means the roots can be up to 63 feet in the ground straight down. Our faith needs to spread out for others over three times ad much as ourselves according to this example.

Our faith should not depend on seeing God move at all, but it sure you can on our trust in Him.

Each of us have faith, but the question is are we using it? Real spiritual maturity means, relying on God’s unchanging character rather than demanding a visible display of His power.

True faith does not want a dramatic sign of a changing circumstance to believe, it rests completely on who God is. God has given each of us a specific measure of faith. Walking out and using that inner trust to take the next right step, even when the path is unclear. Action follows belief. Faith is measured by our obedience and movement, not how strongly we feel an emotional push or sudden shift around us.

No matter how strong a foundation or how well build the walls, a house without a roof is unfinished and unprotected. Without a covering the rain seeps in. The sun beats down, and every part of the home is exposed to the elements. The roof doesn’t just complete the structure it makes it livable.

In our spiritual lives, the roof represents God’s covering presence and lordship. It’s the reality that our lives are not held together by our rhythms, plans, or discipline alone. Psalm 91 paints a beautiful picture, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in shadow of the Almighty. He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in who I trust.”

A rule of life is not about building a self-sufficient spiritual house, it’s about arranging our lives to stay under God’s roof. His presence is what shields us, and keeps us safe from harm. When we live with a conscious awareness of His covering, our practices are no longer just self improvement, it becomes a way of abiding in His shelter.

The truth is even the best built spiritual house will face seasons of difficulty, loss, and testing. But, when our lives are under God’s covering, the storms may shake us, but they won’t break us. Living under God’s roof means we can rest even when we don’t have all the answers, trusting that the One who shelters us also sees the storms ahead and is more than able to carry us through.

Some people cannot discern be the real and the counterfeit. Unfortunately some believers are in a precarious place these days, being led astray with many different winds and teachings. They take for granted what people speak as truth whether a preacher or a believer. God tells us to in 1 John 4:1 to “test the spirits.”

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God.”

The internet is a great place to learn about God. But it’s important to check the information it shares against what God says. Every source of information has its place, but we’re responsible for fact-checking everything we find.

Many false ‘teachers’ do not want to be questioned (at least without getting angry). If someone doesn’t commend you for asking there is an issue with that, and them.

We have so much false information these days, and so many people are deceived by it, that it can become discouraging. Everyone should be careful to check whether they are teaching out of context. James 3:1 has a stern warning for any who teach. When you are listening to someone, write down the scriptures they share and read the context of what they are saying. A tip is to read a few scriptures ahead and a few scriptures after. And ask contextual questions like “Who is speaking in this verse or what was the subject. A simple example is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Is a popular scripture that is often taken out of context. People often use this verse to mean that God will help them succeed at any personal goal, like passing a test, or getting a job. It sounds like a blank check for personal achievement or a positive thinking slogan. The real context is when Paul wrote to the Philippians he was in a Roman prison. Paul explains that he has learned how to be content whether he is well fed or hungry and whether he has plenty or is in need.

“Doing all things…” actually means enduring hardships, suffering, and poverty with the strength and contentment provided by Jesus, rather than getting whatever earthly success you want.

Be aware whether to notice if they are grabbing a verse from here and there, often out of context to piece together proof of their thinking.

Be cautious. 1 Timothy 4 reminds us that in the last days how people will depart from their faith. Pray about it, and be wise. If something doesn’t sound right, it may not be. Many talk about Jesus but don’t know the context of what they are saying.

So many times people have taken things out of context to blur the lines between truth and false information.

We are so blessed to have God’s word to search and see what the truth is. And when we know His Word well, we can discern between good and evil.

While most of us remember Daniel from the Bible as the one in the lions’ den, there was a lot more to his life.

Throughout the first six chapters of Daniel, we learn about how to remain faithful in all circumstances. He ran into several trying situations that could have caused him to lose faith or bend from his beliefs, but Daniel stayed strong.

Through it all Daniel displayed his holiness. There are risks, reasons, and rewards for remaining undefiled by the world.

People who represent holiness are powerful tools in the hands of God. As they stand strong in the face of trials, they witness to the reality of the Lord and Savior. They inspire and challenge us to also stand strong for God’s truth and righteousness.

Daniel lived out genuine holiness. At great risk of losing his life, still he chose to remain undefiled by pagan Babylon.

I often think about what I would do when the bottom falls out of my family’s security, my finances, or my health. Or when things just go horribly wrong. I don’t like to think about it, yet still I know there will be a time when it will. I know I am not insulated from crisis. We live in a fallen world and, any of us can face crippling disappointment and disaster.

What was Daniel’s response to the collapse of his own circumstances? Through him, we get an example of what faithfulness to God looks like when Daniel bottom falls out.

Genuine faith remains strong in the middle of fire circumstances and uncertain outcomes.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniels friends) did not operate on the popular notion that faith is about having confidence in expected or desired outcomes. By their words and actions, they proclaimed a truly Biblical faith -confidence in a sovereign God regardless of any outcome.

In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar needed a reminder of the limits of his greatness and glory. God gave him that reminder through a dream that terrified the king and he again called for Daniel to interpret the vision. The meaning was as simple as it was scary. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he was going to fall greatly. And that he did when Nebuchadnezzar ultimately regained His mind and rule, he plainly stated what “the people’s, nations and men of every language who lived in all the world” needed to learn as a result of his fall.

Daniel made a declaration of righteous judgment.

In Daniel 5, Daniel flips chapter 4. Daniel used King Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion to affirm that the repentant reap the rewards of grace, however bleak their pasts. In chapter 5, Daniel uses King Nebuchadnezzar sacrilege to declare that the rebellious reap the consequences of wrath, however, secure their present. Two equally evil Kings demonstrated two equally vital messages. God’s complete pardon for the humble and God’s sure judgment for the proud.

Daniel had call to trust and live

Daniel was more than 90 years old when the events that led him into the lions’ den occurred. One might think Daniel received a little rest for his retirement years, but God was still using the faithful prophet. Age apparently has no barrier to spiritual usefulness. In Daniel’s case, gospel truths that have been building through the book of Daniel describing his life in Babylon had reached their climax.

No matter how God has made us, or whatever we see as our limitations, He can use our abilities to bring honor to His name.