3 truths that bring peace and hope
On a recent conference call with my staff I made a statement that rings even more true today, “Our world is a very different place than one week ago.” Although we heard rumblings of COVID-19 a few months ago, few of us expected the turbulent times we find ourselves facing.
Few of us thought we would be making tough decisions about whether to cancel our church gatherings or large events that our organizations host. We are unsure of what lies ahead. We don’t know the ramification of coronavirus on our healthcare system or our economic system. We are leading people who are afraid and need leaders to provide a word of wisdom and calm.
I’ve been here before. Not with COVID-19, but I’ve faced other challenging circumstances and crises as a leader. Instead of platitudes, I’ve found that what others are looking for is very much the same thing that I’m looking for in times of tumult—peace and hope.
In dealing with this crisis, like many others, I think about three truths that help bring me peace and hope. It is my hope that you will also find solace in these three truths and that you can pass these along to your sphere of influence.
#1 – God crafts purpose
While we can quote Romans 8:28 as a banner of hope, let’s delve deeper to understand that God is uniquely able to use all crises and all circumstances to accomplish His purposes. It’s brought me great comfort over the years to realize that even if I mess up significantly, God can take my mess and work His purpose through it.
God’s purposes are many. We cannot fathom all the things He has in mind when a crisis hits a people. He will work broadly and He will work individually. The key for each of us is to realize that He wants to work both inus and through us to perfect His purposes.
Ultimately, He desires to transform us into the image of His Son. When our eyes are fixed on the fact that God has a purpose in the midst of our crisis, we are more apt to look for that purpose, to be sensitive to the leading of His Holy Spirit in the midst of our discomfort, pain and chaos.
Can we look beyond ourselves to see what God wants to do around us? While our society is fixed on hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer, which of us will seek God’s purpose for ourselves and those around us?
#2 – God provides perspective
The problems we face seem mountainous to us. You may be carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders today. Watching the news channels for just 10 minutes can create a chaos in our minds and hearts.
The bad news comes and comes, and we can easily fall victim to it if we haven’t learned the art of gaining perspective. When my problems seem out of this world, I often ask myself the following question, Did God not see this coming? The answer, of course, is that He did. I’m then left with a decision. Do I believe my God is good and has good in mind for me? If so, then the current trouble is nothing compared to the glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).
As a species, human beings have a problem. We don’t want to hurt. We don’t want difficulties. We want security and safety, at all costs. Parents today are insulating their children from things that can cause them harm. This obsession with safety, convenience and security is producing weak people who cannot handle the common trials of humanity.
Nothing worth anything comes easily. The trials, troubles and difficulties are presented to allow us to grow into the people God intended us to be. We must take seriously Romans 5:3-4: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
We would like to have hope and character come some other easy way. Character is expensive. Hope is costly. This is why we need God’s perspective for our suffering.
In the midst of the doom and gloom we are hearing on the news, which of us will dare to adopt God’s perspective of the current crisis? Who will look beyond COVID-19 to see God’s perspective?
#3 – The best is yet to come
I love people who are optimistic. I find optimism attractive. It’s magnetic to me—I’m drawn to optimistic people. I think it’s because of a deep-rooted belief that the best is yet to come. When I am feeling down or a bit like Winnie the Pooh’s friend Eeyore, I remind myself, often aloud, “The best is yet to come.”
There are so many applications of this truth in our lives. As I walk with Jesus, I look forward to becoming more like Him in so many ways. I refuse to believe that my best days are past. I cannot accept or allow the negative thought that I will be defeated or that my pursuit of God’s will is doomed to fail. Rubbish! If God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31)?
Hanging on to the promises of God has changed my perspective and given me great hope that the best is yet to come. Why would He be working in my life if my best days were past?
One day my body will fail, and my spirit will soar. I will live in a place that is far beyond anything I can imagine or ask. Heaven is a real place and it provides an eternal source of hope that the best is yet to come.
No matter what comes my way on this earth, I have a resounding joy in my heart because I know that the future is better than my present. Living in the reality that my eternal home is far better than my present setting provides me hope to face whatever challenges come my way.
So when you are crushed with the negative news of the day, when weighty decisions bring you down, when challenges come from every side, recognize that God crafts purpose, God provides perspective and the best is yet to come.
These three truths will provide you the peace and hope to carry you through your present trouble. At least they have for me.
Photo source: istock
 | Andy Zawacki, a former pastor and teacher has a passion for developing leaders who will change the world. He serves as the Head of School at Arborbrook Christian Academy. He is married to Michelle and is dad to triplets, Josh, Anna and Christie. Learn More » |
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