"How's the world treating you?". It was a question asked of me yesterday, with no more of an expectation of a real answer than the general greeting we offer "How are you?". My answer was no more reflective than the answer we typically give to the latter question - "fine". But, it got me thinking. I don't ask myself that question. My answer would often doom me to discouragement. My hope is not in this world.
As we close another year, we can be prone to evaluating our lives. That's a good thing - as long as our evaluations are based on the spiritual. But, may we not evaluate how the world has treated us this year. The world disappoints. It was intended (after the fall) to disappoint.
But, God intends for us to have hope.
Consider Romans 5:3-5: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; [4] and perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
What have the tribulations of this year produced in you? God intends for them to produce perseverance, character and hope - a hope that does not disappoint. Disappointed? Discouraged? Examine in who or in what you have placed your hope. A hope placed in the Lord will not disappoint. Why? Look at the last part of verse 5...because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. As believers, we have a source of hope, a tool, to combat discouragement that unbelievers do not have.
Discouragement can be like a bomb set before us. It can't be ignored. It must be disarmed.
The precipitators of discouragement will be always be a part of our lives. So, I ask not, "What do you do to prevent them in your life?", but I ask, what do you do when they come?
2 Thessalonians 2:16,17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16,17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
