We continue considering Hope with Belief. Firstly, we must believe the great hope that restores us to the Father through the actions of Jesus and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
But secondly, we are to have Hope with Belief in the totality of the Scriptures which tell us the truth about Creation, our sinful rebellion, our redemption, and our ongoing journey to righteousness.
We are asking ourselves the question “Might we be inadvertently passing on to our students that faith in the Triune God may automatically deliver us a trouble-free life in our present time?”
Henri Nouwen gives us a fulsome perspective:
“Hope makes you see God’s guiding hand not only in the gentle and pleasant moments but also in the shadows of disappointment and darkness.”[1]
Paul writing to the Corinthian church points out the truth of his circumstances:
“We are afflicted in every way … perplexed … persecuted … struck down.”
There is physical pain, mental anguish, human betrayal, overwhelming pressure… and what a miserable condition that would be. But then we see the completeness of Paul’s statement saturated with hope:
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
We have a defective and stunted view of God if we see His only responsibility is to ensure our comfort.
We, and our students, must recognise that The Father is determined to bring us to holiness and righteousness and that, in all probability, will involve a degree of pain and discomfort. He will lead us to find purpose and hope “in the shadows of disappointment and darkness.”
Blessings
Brian
[1] Henri Nouwen, quoted in “Never Forget: Discovering Hope in The Aftermath of Tragedy” (USA: Thomas Nelson, 2002), 38.