In the March/April issue of Christianity Today, Russell Moore shares an interaction he had with a person from a prosperity gospel background who had been told it was her lack of faith that was the reason for her sickness and poverty. Because of the misconception of what faith means, he told her, “Why don’t we forget faith for a little while and just trust Jesus?” The article then goes on to clarify a similar misconception about the word hope. “When pressed to define what they mean, [many] ultimately describe what they’re seeking as measurable reassurance—the calming word from an authority that everything will turn out okay… The problem, though, is that this kind of hope disappoints.”
Faith and hope both require trusting Jesus to do what He has promised—nothing more and nothing less. It’s true that “God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19), but it is also true that we often fail to accurately discern between wants and needs (as I noted in my last post). We hope to see churches that are growing in numbers and activity, but it may be that God’s work is not quite that evident or tangible. We love freedom of religion, but God loves sufferers and sinners.
I’m reminded of the Bob Marley song “Three Little Birds” that says, “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna be alright.” While that is an appealing idea, it’s balderdash from a human perspective. Everything is not going to be alright in this world. There will be sickness, suffering, destruction, deception, wars and rumors of wars. Jesus said, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matt. 24:8), and Paul added, “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22-23). All the pains won’t dissipate until Christ returns, so we can’t pin our hope on measurable results or make those results the proof of our faith.
Ultimately, what matters is not statistical growth or visible results, but the fact that Jesus died, rose from the dead, and is coming again. That’s where our faith and hope must dwell. Everything will be alright only after Jesus has returned, the final judgment is completed, and we have access to the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13).
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).
© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
