Waiting and Hoping

When I saw the latest episode title on one of the podcasts I follow, I knew I had to listen right away: Hope + Help for Waiting on God. Mark Vroegop’s new book, Waiting Isn’t a Waste, is one I’ll get as soon as it is released. I know I’m not good at waiting, and it’s something I’ve been wrestling with recently. A particular arena of uncertainty about the future had me anxiously awaiting a resolution. I searched for ways around the waiting without success. So some of Vroegop’s comments in the podcast hit home (and perhaps stepped on my toes a bit).

He notes that in Scripture the Hebrew word that is often translated as waiting is synonymous with hope. (Some time back I had noticed the same of the Spanish word esperar.*) Yet so often we wait without hope. Which brings me to the next point I noted in the podcast. When we are waiting, we need to refocus our attention away from thing that is causing the gap in our knowledge and think instead on what we know about God. Here are a few of the truths that I’ve been returning to in the past several days:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose… to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Rom. 8:28-29).

“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence” (Psalm 140:12-13).

“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5b).

When I’m consumed with anxiety, I start thinking “yeah, but...” I know God is at work, but His ways are not my ways. I know He hears my prayers, but He doesn’t always answer them the way I want or expect. I know He will work all things for good, but I don’t know how long it will take. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be” (Letters, 29 April 1959).

Vroegop also touches on the subject of evaluating our expectations. I want to control my world and the people in it, and dashed expectations hurt. It’s hard to remember and accept that God is working things for good when I can’t understand how He’s doing it or what good may come of it. I’m only now seeing the good that has come out of some things that happened years ago.

As I was anxiously waiting, I tried to think about what was actually under my control, which was not much. I could pray boldly and persistently (and I did), and I invited others to pray with me (which I don’t often do). Aside from that, I simply tried to trust God’s promises and His character more fully, and endeavored to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:16-17).

It turned out that my anxiety-producing lack of knowledge was settled earlier than I expected and in the way that I desired. In reality, the answer was already decided long before I even had reason for anxiety. It was only my own knowledge of the circumstances that needed to be brought up to speed, which required an appointment with the one person who could tell me. Even if that hadn’t been the case, God already knew the answer before I started praying. But in His divine providence, He allowed the testing of my faith in order to make me depend on Him more fully, as well as to remind me that I am connected to people in His Body who are more than willing to pray for me. I wouldn’t have paid attention to a podcast about waiting if I had not had to wait. And I wouldn’t have heard or heeded the reminder that what we know to be true of God is always where we need to focus our attention.

Bruce Martin wrote in Desperate for Hope, “The more we reflect on the greatness of God, the more our perspective on the situation changes. We’re reminded that God is with us and he’s always up to something. We just can’t see it yet” (73).

“But they who wait for [NIV “hope in”] the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

*Quiero esperar con esperanza!

© 2024 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.

IQ Isn't Everything

If you’re like me, whenever you hear the name Albert Einstein there’s this mental sign that pops up saying, “Ah, genius!” When I learned that he was from a Jewish family, had Catholic school education, and was a pacifist, I thought it would be interesting to read some of the things he wrote. They are indeed interesting, but not in the way I anticipated. In just the first chapter of the book The World as I See It, there are a few statements I can fully agree with:

“What is the meaning of human life, or of organic life altogether? To answer this question at all implies a religion... The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow-creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate but almost disqualified for life... I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves.”

Other statements seem mostly correct:

“From the point of view of daily life, without going deeper, we exist for our fellowmen—in the first place for those on whose smiles and welfare all our happiness depends, and next for all those unknown to us personally with whose destinies we are bound up by the tie of sympathy.”

But then there are statements that greatly undermine my respect for this genius. When he gets into religious discussions the anvil drops:

“Feeling and desire are the motive forces behind all human endeavor... [The] most varying emotions preside over the birth of religious thought and experience. With primitive man it is above all fear that evokes religious notions—fear of hunger, wild beasts, sickness, death...

“The social feelings are another source of the crystallization of religion. Fathers and mothers and the leaders of larger human communities are mortal and fallible. The desire for guidance, love, and support prompts men to form the social or moral conception of God... The Jewish scriptures admirably illustrate the development from the religion of fear to moral religion, the religions of all civilized peoples... are primarily moral religions...

“Common to all these types is the anthropocentric character of their conception of God. Only individuals of exceptional endowments and exceptionally high-minded communities, as a general rule, get in any real sense beyond this level. But there is a third state of religious experience which belongs to all of them, even though it is rarely found in a pure form, and which I will call cosmic religious feeling... He looks upon individual existence as a sort of prison and wants to experience the universe as a single significant whole... The religious geniuses of all ages have been distinguished by this kind of religious feeling, which knows no dogma and no God conceived in man’s image; so that there can be no Church whose central teachings are based on it. Hence it is precisely among the heretics of every age that we find men who were filled with the highest kind of religious feeling and were in many cases regarded by their contemporaries as Atheists, sometimes also as saints... I maintain that cosmic religious feeling is the strongest and noblest incitement to scientific research.”

While scientific advances are often (though not always) helpful to the world, it’s sad that some of those involved in such research can’t imagine that there is a sovereign God who not only created this world but is intimately involved in the lives of people. If I thought that man’s only purpose was to keep improving this world for future generations, I don’t think I’d be willing to endure through all the seasons of suffering that life brings. Yes, my faith does help to address my fears and it provides a moral framework for me, but my real hope is in a future life in relationship with my Creator and Redeemer. That is what helps me to get out of bed every day and to keep serving those in need around the world.

My life is what it is because of the God who made me in His image (Gen. 1:27), not because I shaped a god in my own image. Einstein is unfortunately one of those the Apostle Paul was writing about when he said, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Cor. 4:4-5a). I’m thankful to God that I have a God I can thank!

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

(You can read more about Einstein’s religious views on Wikipedia.)

© 2023 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.

In Gratitude

Recently I was listening to a podcast conversation from a secular source that was talking about practicing gratitude. They mentioned the physiological and psychological benefits of intentionally remembering things to be grateful for. One person said she strives for 100 “gratitudes” per day. That’s all well and good, but during the discussion I kept wondering who they were expressing their gratitude to if they held no belief in God. It’s fine to be thankful for indoor plumbing, a bed to sleep in, food on the table, and all the people who make those things possible. But when an atheist sees a beautiful flower in the woods, where should gratitude be directed? One might say, “I’m thankful for that flower,” but thanksgiving implies a source, not simply a happy thought.

As Christians we know that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17a), and we should be grateful for all good things. Yet at the same time we know that God’s blessings to us don’t all carry the same weight. The privileges of living in the Western world are nice, but they can’t really be compared to the eternal benefits of faith, salvation, sanctification, and adoption into God’s family. Just a few verses earlier James had written, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (1:2-4). Termites or plumbing failures, though they may test our patience, aren’t really a trial of faith when compared to the trials endured by our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). Even if we agree that “in all circumstances” doesn’t mean the same thing as “for all circumstances,” this may be one of the hardest commands in Scripture. (Or is it just me?) When it seems like everything in life is going wrong, it is incredibly hard to find reasons for gratitude-- except for the eternal perspective that one day all these trials will cease. That is the perspective that Peter adopts in 1 Peter 1:3-9: Because of Jesus Christ we have an eternal inheritance, and we know that the testing of our faith now will result in “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We can give thanks for that hope regardless of what’s going on in this life.

I’ve been reading the book of Job lately, and after his statement, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21b), there’s a pretty steady stream of lamentation. However, Job’s thoughts keep returning to his Redeemer and that day when he will finally see God (13:15, 19:25-26, etc.). He doesn’t try to remember little things to be grateful for, but he clings to the one thing that really matters: his eternal hope. It is God’s love that matters most and for that we give thanks. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chron. 16:34).

This has become a recurring theme in my blog posts because I have to keep reminding myself that today’s challenges will one day end. It may not be this month or this year or even in this lifetime that a change comes to the painful circumstances of life, but there is a guaranteed ending of trials and tears on that final Day that our Father has established. I am grateful for the certainty of that hope.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29).

© 2023 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.

The Next Step

I subscribe to a blog by author and teacher Terry Powell. One of his recent emails asked the question, “For a person diagnosed with major depression (recurring episodes), what does ‘victorious Christian living’ look like?” I think that is a question worth considering. Every person’s experience is different, but here are a few observations from my lifelong experience of recurring depression:

• Faith doesn’t mean that all struggles cease, but growing faith does mean that I’m learning to depend on God more fully and more often. There is much that I know I could not do apart from God enabling me to keep going. And when my faith feels weak, I still know that it is God who promises to hold onto me and not vice versa.
• Christian joy and hope don’t mean the absence of sorrow and tears, but remembering that one day every tear will be wiped away. (See my earlier post on the Root and Fruit of Hope.) When I don’t feel like singing songs of praise, not only does Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, understand how I feel, but He’s also given me the Body of Christ to sing on my behalf.
• Enduring suffering doesn’t mean pretending it doesn’t exist or hiding it from others. But it also doesn’t mean sitting passively and watching life pass you by. It usually means doing the next thing whether you feel like it or not. Wash the dishes, trim the bushes, go to the office, go to church, get counseling, get some exercise, etc.

I don’t want to hold myself up as some kind of success story or model for everyone else. There are many times when I feel like I’m failing as a Christian and as a person. During one particularly rough season of life I missed a lot of days of work (back when working from home was not an option). My counselor at the time encouraged me to set some goals that would give me a sense of purpose and a destination. That’s when I decided to pursue martial arts and also to go back to seminary part time. Although those things are no longer part of my regimen, they gave me some new relationships and an outlet for my stresses. They also ingrained in me the habit of showing up even when I don’t feel like it.

I think sometimes in the church we confuse legalism and discipline. I read my Bible and write in my prayer journal daily and attend church each week, not because I think God expects me to do so, and not to secure my salvation. I do it because I know that it is for my own benefit and growth in Christ. Likewise, I don’t go to work just to pay the bills or because other people expect me to show up (though that’s all true), but because it is good for me to focus on something besides myself. And I don’t exercise because the doctor tells me to, but because I know I will feel better if I do.

There are still days when I don’t want to keep enduring and I pray “How long, O Lord?” Right now I can’t remember the last time I made it through a whole week without any tears. Although I often don’t feel like a “victorious Christian,” I know that victory is ultimately in God’s hand and that He uses weak and wounded people to accomplish His will in this world.

It struck me this week that Psalms 138 and 139 can go together:

“For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly… The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me… If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me… In Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (138:6, 8; 139:9-10, 16).

God’s path may often lead us through dark valleys, but He will fulfill His purposes because He is the One who walks with us and upholds us through it all. We just need to keep taking one step after another.

“Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; When I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8).

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord… though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).

© 2023 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV. Photo is from a recent hiking trip on the Viaduct Trail near Blowing Rock, NC. (I’m not sure who from our group took this particular photo.) The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Root and Fruit of Hope

According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, the noun for “hope” (elpis) in the New Testament most often means “expectation of good, hope; and in the Christian sense, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.” If you read through the list of verses (here), it usually refers to hope in God and in the promise of eternal life through faith in Christ. The verb form (elpizo) sometimes has the idea of a wish or desire (such as Phil. 2:23), though also refers to fixing one’s hope on God.

I haven’t heard this elsewhere, but I’ve been thinking about it like this—true hope is rooted in God and what He has promised from and for all eternity. Out of that root grow the fruit of godly desires for this life and for what God is doing in us and through us. The root of eternal hope gives us meaning and purpose in life.

I think it is helpful to differentiate between the root of hope and its fruit, because although we may desire certain outcomes, most of them are not guaranteed for this lifetime. We trust in God and His plan, but the specifics are out of our control. We know that God will bring many people to faith in Him, but we don’t know whether that will include a particular person we love. We know that God has put His people together into local church bodies to work together to share the Gospel and disciple others, but we don’t know whether our particular church will be faithful to that call or will even exist ten years from now. (Three churches I’ve attended in the past are now closed.) We know that one day all believers will be resurrected to a perfect existence, but we don’t know whether our family member will be cured from their illness here and now. We know that God will strengthen His people to endure suffering, but we don’t know if our particular area of suffering will come to an end before we die.

That’s why I have often said that my hope is almost entirely in eternity and not in this life, because the things that I would like to see happen here are not guaranteed. God is at work and He will fulfill His purposes, but His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways (Is. 55:8). I will wish and pray for the outcomes I desire, but ultimately, I must say, “Thy will be done.”

I believe this is one of the lessons from the life of Job. He had certain expectations of his life, but God allowed him to suffer in ways that didn’t make sense to him. So often we quote only the first half of Job 13:15, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to His face.” In the end, Job realized that his assumptions were misplaced. God never did answer Job’s questions, but He did remind Job that He was still in control of all things. Job’s hope couldn’t be in his prosperity, his family, his understanding, or even his religious activities, but in God alone.

I have sometimes called myself a cynic, but actually I’m what this article from TGC calls a hopeful realist.

“This is a perspective that embraces the dual realities of contemporary evil and forthcoming redemption. It lives in the tension of a groaning creation and its imminent restoration.”

I have no illusions that things in this life will go the way I want them to, but I cling to the hope that God will one day make all things new and “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). In the meantime, we are all meant to be working in the pursuit of God’s will and living in obedience to His Great Commission and Great Commandment.

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19).

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom. 15:13).

© 2023 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.

To Boldly Go

I admit I am a fan of Star Trek. Every now and then I notice some comment made by a character that stirs a recognition of either a biblical truth or a secular lie. Here’s a sampling:

“Mortality gives meaning to human life, Captain. Peace, love, friendship—these are precious, because we know they cannot endure” (Commander Data in ST:Picard S1.E10).

This quote is antithetical to Christian belief. We believe that it is the immortality found through faith in Jesus Christ that gives meaning to life. Love is eternal because God is love and God is eternal. As Paul wrote to the Corinthian church (quoting from Isaiah 22:13), “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” If this life is all there is, then we can either choose the path of supreme enjoyment or the path of trying to make some lasting difference in the world. But in either case, our influence will soon fade. Which brings me to the next quote from the funeral for Dr. Crusher’s grandmother:

“Now we commit her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope that her memory will be kept alive within us all” (ST:TNG S7.E14).

Although some reviewers have characterized this scene as a Christian funeral, that’s certainly not the language from the Book of Common Prayer— “in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.” Do we really want to put our hope in the memories of those who knew us? How many people who died 100 years ago are truly remembered aside from a name on a stone somewhere? But if our hope is in the coming resurrection, we know that God Himself will remember those who belong to Him, all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27).

Once in a while, Star Trek does stir more encouraging thoughts. In Deep Space 9 (S7.E2), Commander Sisko has a conversation with the “prophets,” who are almost god-like beings. He asks,

“You arranged my birth? I exist because of you? … Why me?”

“Because it could be no one else.”

This scene actually reminded me of parts of Ephesians.

“[God] chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (1:4).

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (2:10).

Our lives have purpose because God chose to give us each specific work to do. Your role in this world can be filled by no one else. Sometimes we may be inclined to think that we are expendable, that our work doesn’t matter, but God says it does. That’s not to put undue pressure on us to live up to high expectations, but it should be an encouraging reminder that each of us is a unique and valuable contributor to God’s grand story. In that hope, we can boldly go into the day ahead of us—knowing that we have a purpose today and for eternity with Him.

“This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him” (Eph. 3:11-12).

 © 2023 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.

Looking Ahead

During the season of Advent churches often focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. The angels proclaimed:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:10-11, 14).

We recognize that those are not merely emotional experiences, but are rooted in the truths of Scripture—initiated with the birth of Jesus and to be finally fulfilled at His Second Coming. However, even as we affirm that truth, probably many of us are wishing for the emotional side of hope, peace, joy, and love. Life in this world is hard, and the busyness of Christmas can be a reminder of how imperfect the world is. The past couple years have added new kinds of stresses to our family, work, school, and church lives. As much as we may want to return to the “good old days,” things are forever changed. We are mentally, physically, and emotionally worn out.

If we look back to the time of Jesus’ birth, things weren’t too rosy then either. The Roman occupation had all Israel on edge. In the midst of the narrative of Jesus’ birth and early life, after the wise men leave, we read:

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under… A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted because they are no more” (Matt. 2:16, 18).

We don’t know how many people around Bethlehem had heard about the message of “good news of great joy,” but they were probably wondering how the death of dozens of children was part of this “good news.” A tyrannical leader looked more like proof of the lack of peace and joy and hope in the world. Even after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples still didn’t fully understand His role in the world. They asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They were still looking for a temporal conqueror as their source for hope and peace.

As we live in a culture that is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and uncomfortable, the temporal aspects of hope, joy, and peace are harder to grasp. I’ve often said that my hope is 99% located in eternity, because I don’t see much hope for things in this life. The same applies to peace and joy. I have no problem looking forward to the perfection of eternity. I just wish we didn’t have to go through all the difficulties of life in the meantime.

The Apostle Paul indicates that today’s hardships will make eternity even more glorious: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). James also points to eternity as reason to endure now: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

The author of Hebrews reminds us, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). In the process of enduring and holding onto hope, we can look for the signs of God’s work in our lives—conforming us to the image of Christ; loving others with the love we’ve received from God; and using the gifts He has given us for His purposes of spreading the gospel and helping others to grow in their faith. When life and culture press us down, it’s not a “happy holiday” that we need, but reminders of God’s faithfulness to His promises. We don’t need to fake emotions we aren’t feeling; we need to hold fast to our hope in the eternity that we will enjoy with our heavenly Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

“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. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Rom. 8:23-25).

© 2022 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.

For Sure

The first Sunday of Advent typically focuses on the theme of hope. This is not some kind of wishful thinking about the future, but a steadfast certainty that God is who He says He is, that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and ascended into heaven, and that one day He will return to gather His people. The human authors of Scripture pointed repeatedly to this unshakeable hope.

“It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you… that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4).

“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which is it impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone… This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant… Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 6:17-20a, 7:22, 25).

“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father” (1 John 2:13).

When we know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we have confident hope in His care for us.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6)

In a world where it seems like the only certain things are death and taxes, we need reminders that God is greater than all this. There is nothing that happens apart from His knowledge and permission (Job 1-2). I’ve been reminded of this in multiple ways recently in areas where I have tried to control the uncontrollable. I can’t do it, but I can trust and hope in the One who is in control of all things.

“Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You” (Psalm 33:22).

© 2021 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

How Long?

Most days I go online and skim through the headlines on my preferred international and local news sites. I may read a few articles, but often the headlines are enough to discourage me from reading further. Murders, wrongful deaths, pandemic deaths, accusations, abuses of power, political maneuvering, etc. The list is endless and nauseating. I repeatedly wonder with the psalmist, “How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile Your name forever? Why do You hold back Your hand, Your right hand?” (Psalm 74:10-11).

Jesus encountered similarly disturbing scenes in His day.

“When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

“‘O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?’ …And Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly” (Matthew 17:17-18).

“‘And when He drew near [Jerusalem] and saw the city, He wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes’” (Luke 19:41-42).

“When Jesus saw [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled… Jesus wept” (John 11:33, 36).

“And a leper came to Him, imploring Him, and kneeling said to Him, ‘If You will, You can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, He stretched out His hand and touched Him and said to Him, ‘I will; be clean’” (Mark 1:40-41).

“As He drew near to the fate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow… And when the Lord say her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then He came up and touched the bier… And the dead man sat up… and Jesus gave him to his mother” (Luke 7:11-15).

“In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables… ‘Take these things away; do not make My Father’s house a house of trade’” (John 2:14-16). [This was an act He apparently repeated at the end of His ministry—see Matt. 21:12-13.]

Jesus healed many people and restored a few to life and He had the power to do much more, but His immediate purpose was not to fix every perceived wrong then and there. Instead, He provided the means by which eternal perfection would be made possible. He wasn’t the revolutionary reformer that the Jews expected of their Messiah. He knew that the only cure for the sin and brokenness of the world was for Him to carry it to the grave.

Because of His death on the cross and His resurrection, we now live in the time of “already but not yet.” The door to perfection has been opened, but we cannot enter in until we are resurrected to eternal life. In the meantime, we continue to groan and weep over this fallen world where there are so many things we can’t fix. “For we know that 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” (Romans 8:22-23).

We can take comfort in the fact that Jesus knows how we feel because He’s been through it Himself, and we cling to the hope that the day is coming when all things will be made new and perfect.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

© 2021 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Effects of Faith

Faith gives us eternal hope.

For those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we have the certainty that there is coming a day when God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

When life is hard and it seems like things will never change, there is always the hope of eternity. Eternal life means that the trials of this life are temporary and they will one day seem insignificant. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Faith gives us purpose.

Life is about more than getting an education, earning a living, raising a family, or saving for vacation and retirement. For the believer, every aspect of life is infused with the purpose of loving and serving God by loving and serving those around us. Joseph Hellerman wrote:

“Experiencing God and serving God are not unrelated. God offers a wonderful alternative to an otherwise aimless life that must rely on regular shots of experiential escape—secular or spiritual—to provide a sense of significance. That alternative is to give our lives to a community with a mission—a local church charged with the task of proclaiming the ‘excellencies’ of the God who has called us ‘out of darkness into his marvelous light’ (1 Pet 2:9)” (Why We Need the Church to Become More Like Jesus, ch. 6).

If we expect this life to fulfill all our hopes and dreams, we will be sorely disappointed. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24).

Faith joins us to a family.

Through faith in Christ we are adopted into God’s family. We don’t just have a relationship with the Father, but with all of His children. We have more in common with those in our Christian family than we do with non-Christians in our nuclear family. We may share history with our nuclear family, but we share an eternal future with our Christian family.

Our brother and sisters in Christ are meant to be those with whom we can share both our joys and our struggles. “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor… Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:10, 15). “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:8).

Faith assures us that we are loved by God.

“Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us… God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:5, 8). By His love and grace our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to Him. “Your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3), so we are just as beloved as Jesus is. “For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you” (1 Thess. 1:4).

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

 © 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Fear or Faith

“Let the morrow be what it may, our God is the God of tomorrow. Whatever events may have happened, which to us are unknown, our Jehovah is God of the unknown as well as of the known. We are determined to trust the Lord, come what may. If the very worst should happen, our God is still the greatest and best. Therefore will we not fear…” -Charles Spurgeon

Several years ago I wrote a post (here) based on Exodus 2:25: “God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” They’d been in Egypt about 400 years with conditions getting progressively worse. God didn’t suddenly remember that they were there. He’d known all along, but for whatever reason He allowed them to stay and suffer there until what He deemed to be the perfect time. Moses was in wilderness training in Midian for forty years while the Israelites suffered. Even through the ten plagues the people had to keep waiting. Curiously, for most of plagues the Bible does not specifically say that the Israelites living in the land of Goshen were protected from the effects of the plague. They probably wondered where God was and what He was doing. They certainly feared Pharaoh’s retribution, particularly when they were hemmed in by the Red Sea while Pharaoh’s army pursued them.

Even when they were safely across the sea and in the wilderness they couldn’t figure out why they were there or where they were going. They faced one doubt after another as they wandered, and they rebelled against God repeatedly because they didn’t trust His plan for them.

Our current trial with COVID-19 raises a lot of questions too. Why doesn’t God intervene with a miraculous cure? Why didn’t He stop it a long time ago? Is the Church going to suffer because of governmental restrictions? Are our religious freedoms in jeopardy? What good is going to come out of this? Although those are all valid questions, some of which we may never know the answer to, I think there are more important questions we need to ask ourselves: Are we going to feed our faith or our fear? Are we trusting that God knows every detail of what’s going on today and that He is still in control? Are we helping others to trust God through their doubts and fears?

I’ve been pleased with the way some churches, pastors, and leaders have stepped outside their comfort zones to use social media as a tool to share vital truths from Scripture. But I’ve also been frustrated by others who have a running negative commentary on society. At times like this, I think we need to be constantly looking for and sharing reasons for hope and peace and joy. That’s not to say we close our eyes to everything else, but there are already plenty of sources of negative news.

Going back to the Exodus story, think how different the ending would have been if it hadn’t been just Joshua and Caleb who encouraged the people to enter the Promised Land. What if the all of the spies had reported, “The land… is exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, He will bring us into the land and give it to us… Do not fear the people of the land… Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:7-9). But the people chose fear over faith and paid the price of an entire generation dying in the wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land.

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV).

Are we living as light in the world by sharing faith and hope, or are we contributing to its darkness by promoting fear and pessimism? Do unbelievers look at us and say “I want that kind of hope,” or do they say “They look just like everyone else now”? Do others see that we truly believe that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2)?

Let’s get busy sowing seeds of faith, not fear!

“For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness… He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” (Psalm 18:28-31).

© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Where's Your Hope?

“But you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day” (Joshua 23:8 ESV).

In this age of uncertainty and anxiety due to the coronavirus, what you are clinging to? News coverage? Cleaning supplies? Family members? Or to the Lord your God, the maker of heaven and earth? He’s not wringing His hands and saying, “Oh, I didn’t see that coming!” He knew it from the beginning, and it hasn’t changed the number of days any of us have written in His book (Psalm 139:16).

Statistics in 2019 showed about 41% of people are at least “somewhat” afraid of death. I suspect that figure is significantly higher when there’s a pandemic spreading. Christians need not fear death, though admittedly we might fear the process of dying as well as the impact that death has on loved ones. If we are in Christ, we know our eternal destiny is secure. We should pray that those who are not believers will give serious thought to what happens after death. The current proliferation of online church services should enable some to hear the gospel and respond if they have not yet done so.

After writing those two paragraphs I learned that someone I know died Sunday. Suddenly the pandemic had a face and a name. It was no longer just “something” out there. It ceased to be an inconvenient social experiment and became real people really dying. My prayers had been “Lord, give wisdom to the leaders and doctors and scientists to stop the spread of this disease.” Now they are more like the psalms of lament (see Psalm 13):

How long, O Lord?
Will You forget us forever?
How long will You hide Your face from us?
How long must we have sorrow in our hearts all the day?
How many people must suffer and die?
How many will be mourning loved ones?
How many will be lacking basic necessities of life?
Lord, please intervene quickly!
We are helpless without You!

I’m sure many are asking why God is allowing this to continue. The theological arguments for the effects of the Fall on the world are good, but they don’t really touch the broken hearts of those who have lost family members. We know that God can and will bring some good out of this evil, and I hope that many will turn to faith in Him in these desperate times. But that doesn’t necessarily lessen the pain of the suffering today. Walter Kaiser wrote, “Let us also bow before our Maker and recognize His infinite wisdom in His distinctive and numerous reasons for suffering. And when [no explanation] seems to fit our own moment of crisis, then let us return to the lodestone and central affirmation of the book of Lamentations: ‘Great is Thy faithfulness.’”

“Remember my affliction and my wanderings…
My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’
says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord”
(Lamentations 3:19-26 ESV).

The song “In Christ Alone” is a good reminder of our source of hope as well as the gospel message. May we place our trust in the One who has overcome sin and death for us, and therefore we may truly find our hope in Christ alone and have no fear in death, because Jesus commands our destiny. “Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.”

“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead… But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 57-58).

© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Desire and Hope

“O Lord, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear” (Psalm 10:17 ESV).

As I read this verse this week, I started thinking about the many different desires I have for myself and for others—spiritual, relational, vocational, physical—some small, some more grand. I wrote several down in my prayer journal. I’m sure we all have good desires in every area of our lives. David and the other psalmists wrote often of our desires:

• “May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!” (Ps. 20:4).
• “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).
• “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You” (Ps. 73:25).
• “You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing… He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them” (Ps. 145:16, 19).

It is encouraging to remember that God knows all those desires, and that He knows best how to fulfill our desires in His own time and way. No, He won’t give us everything we want, but He will give us what He deems best. We have reason to hold on to hope, because God listens to our hearts and keeps us in His hand.

Even if we don’t see our desires fulfilled in this lifetime, in eternity we will find all good things. John Eldredge wrote:

“Desire cannot live without hope. Yet we can only hope for what we desire. There simply must be something more, something out there on the road ahead of us, that offers the life we prize. To sustain the life of the heart, the life of deep desire, we desperately need to possess a clearer picture of the life that lies before us... When we are convinced that something delicious is about to be ours, we are free to live in expectation, and it draws us on in anticipation” (The Journey of Desire, 105, 163-164).

Augustine put it this way:

“The entire life of a good Christian is in fact an exercise of holy desire. You do not yet see what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when He comes you may see and be utterly satisfied” (Commentary on the First Epistle of John).

In this broken world, it can be tempting to try to kill desire or pretend it doesn’t matter. Instead, we should look for the God-given desires that are at the root of all other desires. As we seek God’s will in Scripture, our desires are refined and brought into alignment with God’s desires. I’m sure it delights God when we ask Him to do things that are already in His plan. Like children growing up, we start out wanting whatever pleases us, but as we mature we start wanting better things both for ourselves and for those we love.

I want to desire God’s best, though I know I often settle for something much less valuable. It is my hope and prayer that God will take my lesser desires and turn them into something far beyond all I can ask or imagine. For now I’ll trust that He hears, He knows, and He cares.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV).

© 2018 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com.

In the Storm

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1b-3 ESV).

I have to admit though that there are times when the difficulties of life seem overwhelming and all-consuming. I realize anew that God didn’t say we don’t have to go through the rivers or the fires, but that He will be with us in the midst of them. God revealed His presence in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). Jesus was in the boat with the disciples when they thought they were going to die from the storm (Mark 4:35-41). After calming the wind and waves, His question to them was, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (v. 40). He could have kept them out of the storm entirely, but instead used it to reveal His power. Later on God sent an angel to the Apostle Paul to assure him that he and the crew would survive the storm that would destroy the ship in which they sailed (Acts 27:23-24).

It would be nice if we could see God or receive an angelic messenger when the storms of life arise. Unfortunately, God doesn’t generally work that way. Trials can strengthen our faith if we cling to what we know from Scripture to be true: God is present, He cares, and He will work all things for our ultimate good and His glory.

I wonder what lessons He has in mind for our present trials (whatever they may be)?

• Patiently enduring (Col. 1:11)
• Placing our hope in Him (Rom. 5:3-4)
• Relying on His strength in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9)
• Unceasing prayer (1 Thess. 5:16-18; Luke 18:1-8)
• Being sanctified (1 Thess. 5:23-24; Heb. 12:7)
• Boasting for God (2 Thess. 1:4-5)
• Comforting others in affliction (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

These and other Scriptural reminders should shape the way we pray for ourselves and others. I shared with someone recently that it is a little scary to pray, “Lord, do whatever it takes to save this person’s soul,” because we don’t really want to see anyone suffer. It’s far easier to pray, “Deliver this person from this difficulty,” but that may not be God’s plan. The question is, do we trust God to do exactly what is needed and nothing more or less? If He has the power to use every circumstance for His own good purposes, I want to trust Him to do that even if it hurts. That’s easier said than done.

It would be helpful if we could see the future results of the storm we’re in, but some trials may never make sense in this lifetime. One day we will realize the “eternal weight of glory” that is the result of our endurance (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Meanwhile we wait, trust, and hope.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

© 2018 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com.

Joy in Abiding

The third week of Advent is typically associated with the theme of joy. Of the four themes, love, joy, and peace are all listed in the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, and Romans 15:13 ties together hope, joy, and peace: “May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (ESV). The truth is that we cannot manufacture hope, love, joy, or peace out of our own efforts. We are dependent on the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

The world tries and fails to mimic these traits, especially at Christmas. We are told it’s the “most wonderful time of the year,” and yet it is often filled with stress, anxiety, discord, and sorrow. We can wish for and look forward to changes in the New Year, but that is not the same as the hope that is firmly rooted in Christ. We can make an extra effort to be kind to others, but as Paul wrote, “If I give away all I have… but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). We can pursue activities that make us happy, but true joy is found only because of our relationship with Christ. We can try to create soothing circumstances and relationships, but true peace is out of our control.

• “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3b). “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
• “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins… We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:10, 19).
• “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16a). “For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
• “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

If this fruit grows out of our relationship with God, we won’t produce it by trying harder but by growing closer to Him. As we spend time in the Word and in prayer, we will be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2), and we will be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). As we abide in the vine, in relationship with Christ, then the Fruit of the Spirit will become evident in our lives. “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4b).

I can think of nothing that will create greater joy, peace, hope, and love than drawing close to the One who created me, redeemed me, and chose me to be part of His family for eternity.

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

© 2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com.

Hopes and Fears

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” (Phillips Brooks).

The first Sunday of Advent is often linked with the theme of hope, and I’ve been thinking a lot about this line from “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Brooks wrote the song a few years after the Civil War, so I expect he knew a bit about hopes and fears. When life is easy and free from anxiety, who needs hope? But hope is a lifeline when fears are overwhelming.

I have often been guilty of thinking of Christian hope as something rooted in the future. The hope for a perfected world for eternity is a good hope and one worth hanging onto. But that’s not the only hope. As Brooks correctly identified, our fears are addressed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus two millennia ago. Our hope is grounded in the past, not just in the future. Christ meets us in our fears.

• When we fear that God doesn’t hear— “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard... O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage” (Daniel 10:12, 19 ESV).
• When we feel alone and weak— “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand... For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isaiah 41:10, 13).
• When shame hangs over us— “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more” (Isaiah 54:4).
• When we fear death— “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17b-18).
• When we are suffering— “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:20).
• When persecution comes— “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

I’ve found that hope is a choice. It is choosing to believe the promises of God over the lies of the world. It isn’t always easy to believe that God is good and that He is in control. There are times when hope feels too risky. There are times when admonitions to hope simply fall on deaf ears. But even when we don’t hear it, feel it, or understand it, God is still faithful.

Edward Welch wrote in Shame Interrupted,

“Hope was once a curse to you. It was just another occasion for disappointment and grief… Some days the truth sounds like mere words… When you believe what God has said rather than lies, you are doing valuable work. When you choose hope over despair, your choice has lasting significance. When you get out of bed and persevere in ordinary obedience because you are representing the King, your labor is noticed even by heavenly beings (Ephesians 3:10)” (317, 320, 324).

May this Christmas season bring renewed hope to all who seek Him.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11).

© 2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com.

A Brief Thought for Advent

The four traditional emphases of the Advent wreath are hope, peace, joy, and love. As I was looking at some Scriptures on those themes, I noticed a few things in the ESV:

• There is one verse that refers to the God of hope (Romans 15:13), one reference to the God of love (2 Cor. 13:11), several verses that refer to the God of peace, but none refer to the God of joy.
• There are several verses that refer to the love of God, one reference to the peace of God (Phil. 4:7), but no references to the hope of God or joy of God.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8), but God is not hope or peace or joy. He is the source of all good things, but He is not defined by those things in the same way that He is defined by love. God has no real need for hope or peace as we understand them, because He is omnipotent and in control of all things. We who are limited, created beings need to find our hope and peace in something and Someone greater than ourselves. God has joy, but it is not dependent on any circumstances. He is never surprised by a good outcome of events or a newly converted sinner. His joy is in the fellowship of the Trinity and in arranging the detailed lives of billions of people in His divine plan.

But God is love. All that He does for us, in us, and through us is because of love. His character is revealed through His love in action, and His love is multiplied through the members of His Body. Because God is love, therefore we can have hope and peace and joy. As we trust in His character we can have hope, knowing that He will work all things together for our good. If we believe in His love for us, we can have peace because He is present with us in all circumstances. And because He is love, we can experience joy as we grow in spiritual maturity and as others are brought to faith in Him.

The commercialization of Christmas has led people to believe that we can find hope, peace, joy, and love through material gifts, well-planned social events, and nostalgic traditions. In reality, they are only found in seeking God. Hope, peace, and joy aren’t found by seeking them for their own sake, but by seeking the God of love.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13 ESV).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

Qualifying Runs

This was an interesting passage to read right after the Olympics concluded: “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love” (Psalm 147:10-11 ESV).

I was reminded of the quote from Olympian and missionary Eric Liddell, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” That quote has always made me slightly uneasy, I think because it is so easy to take out of the context of Eric’s life. It wasn’t just because he ran fast that he felt God’s pleasure. It was the fact that his running was used as a tool to give glory to God. Eric took a stand against running on the Lord’s Day, and thereby glorified God. He used the spotlight of the Olympics to share his testimony so that God would be glorified. God didn’t “find pleasure in the legs of a man” just because he ran fast, but because Eric feared God and trusted in His steadfast love.

Maya DiRado took a little heat from some Christians when she said, “I don’t think God really cares about my swimming very much.” But she clarified, “This is not my end purpose, to make the Olympic team. My God is powerful and in control, but I don’t think He cares whether I win. It’s interesting theology you can get into when it’s a God of victory in your sport.” She got her priorities right. It’s not about what you can do but about where you place your trust. As a side note, as I watched the Olympics, I found myself praying that God would honor the athletes who honored Him.

During the closing ceremony broadcast there was a lot of talk about athletes who were “the greatest of all time,” though apparently no recognition by the commentators that time keeps marching on and records fall every year. No matter how good an athlete is, their time in the spotlight will come to an end.

The fact is that the vast majority of us will never be in the national or international spotlight for anything we do in this life. But as the psalmist reminds us, that doesn’t matter to God in the slightest. His delight is in people who love Him and serve Him with whatever gifts and abilities they may have. We may never run, walk, talk, write, or create anything particularly noteworthy, but we can glorify God with our bodies, minds, and spirits by loving Him and loving others. As Paul pointed out in the opening of 1 Corinthians 13, we can exercise all kinds of gifts and abilities, but if it is done without God’s love it is meaningless.

Ultimately, those gold, silver, and bronze medals will disappear. Names will be forgotten. Records will be broken. But God will remember those who have exercised hope in His steadfast love. He will honor those who have honored Him.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan.