(BP) Hope

“What is your favourite season?” I was chatting with a friend after dinner.

“Hm, Spring.” She told me.

“Oh, why?” I was curious.

“Because, with the flower blossoms, and all the beautiful things, it is just good to have something to anticipate for!” She gave this beautiful answer.

I guess this is not just true in terms of natural seasons, but to life seasons as well. Perhaps hard times and trials are not the most terrible thing in life.Rather, the sense of hopelessness. As if one enters a tunnel of darkness, cannot see any light, do not know what to expect, have no idea when it will end.

In contrast, whenever hope exists, even if it appears to be a small candle fire flickering in the wind, it conveys the strength to cast away the nip and the seemingly endless darkness.

In life, there may be times we do not understand why God allows something happen to us. “God, it is easy for you to just remove this obstacle, and make my life a bit easier.” Especially in times when what He considers as the best is so different from our thoughts.

Centuries ago when Israelis were besieged by Babylonians in the time of Jeremiah, I think what they would consider the best was to have victory over the invaders, just as how God brought triumph to their ancestors over the Philistines in Canaan, and over different enemies when David and his army was battling. But it was God’s will for them to surrender to Babylon.

And at a point, they wanted to flee to Egypt, because their former king Gedaliah was murdered. All the people was in great disturbance, and asked Jeremiah the prophet to seek for God’s will on where they should go. And God told them, “Do not fear the King of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land.” (Jeremiah 42:11-13)

In different seasons we may run into occasions, or occasions may run into our life that makes us want to flee so badly, or even wonder why God does not do something to move us away from the storm. So often do we forget that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and He guarantees, “for as heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Even in the midst of the cyclone, He is faithful to make an eye for us to find rest and peace in Him. And ultimately, “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 as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

As in the winter snow anticipating the spring flower blossom, there's always hope regardless of life season.

The hope of dwelling deeper in Him; the hope of getting closer to His heart; the hope of being more like Jesus; the hope of being able to be an encouragement to people who will go through the same struggles. The hope given by Jesus in His steadfast faithfulness and renewed mercy.