Defiant Hope for Troubling Times

"In this world you will have trouble…"

What an incredibly uplifting sentiment, right?

I think the last few months have been evidence enough that this is true. So much pain, heartache and loss. Almost too much for the whole world to bear. Add to it isolation and loneliness and it can feel crushing.

Even though Jesus warned us this would be true (John 16:33), that we would have trouble while we walk this earth, we’re still surprised when it comes for us, aren’t we? It still knocks us for a loop.

I know there’s not much hope in the first part of that statement. Yes, we will have trouble. We will suffer. But the rest of Jesus' words make me wild with hope. Defiant hope. Hope that doesn’t rest on the reality I see in front of me.

Hope that Coronavirus doesn’t get the last word. Not even death gets the last word.

“But take heart, for I have overcome the world.”

The Amplified Bible expounds on the phrase “take heart”, it says “be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy”. Because God’s “victory [is] abiding”.

Oh, what a difference a properly placed conjunction can make. Or a hyphen.

I came across something on social media the other day and it said an athlete had re-signed with his team. Take out that hyphen and it would be a completely different story. Take out the conjunction from Jesus’ statement (and everything that comes after it), and it’s a completely different story.

But what a glorious conjunction!

There is hope. Even in this.

We may not see it yet. But we will.

Hang on to this today:

“You crown the year with your goodness…

Psalm 65:11 (CSB)

The crown is the finishing touch, the symbol of glory and beauty. The year is not over yet.

This year may have started out with lots of trouble and sadness. But we serve a God who will yet crown the year with his goodness. You can count on that.

Blessings, friends!