A more excellent way...

Barely  twenty-four hours after I published the very first blog on Hope, a very special friend of mine sent me a text I honestly wasn't expecting at the time. She had been going through quite a troubling season, one in which God kinda chose to remain silent even after we had prayed over the issue over and over again. That really was part of the reason I was inspired to write about Hope. In that moment, we could only hope that things would get better.

What we had been hoping for had finally come to be, and I was so happy about it because I honestly didn't really know how it would all end. As I had said previously, Hope isn't quite a happily- ever- after fairy tale that automatically ends the way you want it to. In that moment I was instantly reminded of a portion of scripture which I'd love to share, 

🌺

Romans 5:3-5NIV

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

🌺

The part that stood out for me in that moment was verse 5a; "And Hope does not disappoint us..." Other versions say, "And Hope does not put us to shame..." That, I believe, is God's way of assuring us that none of what we go through will end in shame or disappointment, but in the "what no eye has seen".

If we were now to define Hope based on this scripture, it would probably be an end product of joy in suffering, perseverance and what people term "character development". Of course these are things that are not very pleasant, but as long as we're still on earth, we are bound to experience them in one way or the other. 

Why I titled this particular piece  "Untitled"  is because I realized that there's more to that verse than just what meets the eye. It doesn't just end in Hope not disappointing us, but continues further and talks about God's Love poured out. I find this verse quite different from all others that I've read about Hope because it has a degree of assurance and certainty that things will eventually work out. 

In a moment I was wondering what God's love had to do with all these things, but now I'm beginning to understand that God's Love is actually the primary ingredient of everything that is of God. In other words it is indispensable. Paul in the book of 1st Corinthians, right before that chapter on Love, says " And yet I will show you the most excellent way." He then proceeds to crown Love above everything that would be considered great, whether it's speaking in heavenly tongues, or having gifts of prophecy, word of knowledge, great faith, or even great acts of compassion. None of that can be what it is without Love.

So Love really is the most important thing, though this is not as apparent to all as it should be. Prayer would not be what it is without Love, neither would the ministry of healing. Jesus moved in compassion. It's why His ministry was as effective as it was. The enemy's strategy is to take that Love out of the equation, and leave us all with the "things of God", but which are without effect because that one fundamental ingredient that is in fact the essence of all things is lacking.

Since Love is such a broad subject, I'll narrow down to it's co- relation with Hope. It really is so simple,

🍂

1Corinthians13:7 NKJV

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

🍂

Although Paul here is talking about Love, it's pretty clear that the verse also captures the aspects of patient endurance, faith and hope. Other versions say that Love knows no limits to its endurance, has no limit to its faith, is always hopeful and stays behind or continues firmly even when others have departed. In other words Love never gives up. Without Love it would be impossible to hope, because Hope really is all about patient endurance in suffering as one awaits the fulfilment of the desired end.

The word "bear" as used in the first part of the verse actually comes from the Greek word "stego", which means "roof". Some versions translate it to mean the same as "endure" or "persevere" which is already used in the last part of the verse. The more original ones say "covers everything" and "always protects".

I find that very powerful to note because it's God's way of reminding us that no matter how intense the suffering may be, it can never outweigh us because it will never be outside of God's limits. The roof doesn't really prevent extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning or even the scorching sun from having their effects on the earth. What it does is that it "holds out against" all these extremes in such a way that whatever is under it always remains secure. That really is what God's love does.

This is a beautiful assurance that only comes with the understanding of God's Love. During that season my friend was in at the time, sometimes all she could do was remind herself that God is Love. It didn't look like it made things any different, but it sure made her hope tangible because at the end of the day, it would all end in Love. Most importantly, it gave her the ability to trust the Father's heart, and the peace to let her soul find rest in God once more(Psalms 116:7).

It's easy to be deceived by the enemy that God is against us or that maybe He just isn't as good as everyone says He is. It's easy to perceive Him as one who would author pain and affliction out of His own accord. It's easy to think that He's doing nothing about whatever we may be crying out to Him about. 

The language of God's Love, however, speaks otherwise:

🍂 

Lamentations .3:31-33NIV

 For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.

Though he brings grief, 

he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

🍂

The enemy knows this truth, and his strategy is to make you exchange it for the lie that God is not for you. It then becomes almost impossible to see the fulfilment of that desired end because you fail to be open to receive "God's love poured out". Let that not be your story. Instead, you can choose, like Jeremiah, to be remind yourself these words:

🍂

Lamentations 3:21-24 RSV

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 thy faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

🍂

That right there is the core of today's piece. The reason for our hope is just that: God's steadfast love. Without this understanding our Hope would be just but wishful thinking. To wrap this up,

🍂God is for you. 

🍂God is Love. 

🍂It will all end in Love. 

🍁

Psalms 33:18-22 NIV 

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, 

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death 

and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the LORD; 

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, 

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, 

even as we put our hope in you.

🍁

🪷

1 Corinthians13:13NIV

And now these three remain:

faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is Love.

🪷