Where does grace play out in the midst of life around us? Whether we are looking at our own lives or the chaos in the world we live in, what does intimacy with God in a world of turmoil look like? Emotions – what do they tell us, why do they matter, how does God use them to communicate with us? Follow the blog team this season as we look at finding Hope in the God who loves us as we navigate this crazy world.
Being a parent requires one to master the art of finding-the-silver-lining. While I aim to create an environment where my kids have permission to feel sad, disappointed, jealous or angry, I am also keenly aware that they can be swallowed up by those emotions if I don’t chime in with a quick perspective shift.
You are bummed because you just finished your last soccer game? I’m sorry, but at least that means it’s time for the end of the season pizza party!
You are disappointed because you are not allowed to wear your favorite, sequined dress to the pumpkin patch? I’m sorry, but that means you can plan to wear it to church and make it an extra special (and sparkly) weekend!
You are devastated because your cherished lego creation fell to the floor and broke apart? I’m sorry, but now we can help you build a new one, that’s bigger and has parts that can move!
Sometimes the alternative I can offer is a bit lackluster, but with the right timing and enthusiasm, it usually does the trick. And it’s a skill that translates to many aspects of my own life. When the restaurant is out of my favorite menu item, I suppose I could branch out to try something new. When my outdoor plans get rained out, I get the chance to catch up on my reading.
But what about when it’s more than just a disappointment or a foiling of plans? What about the days when the heaviness of the world around us makes it hard to function? Or when we suffer an unimaginable loss and have to get up and face the next day?
Perhaps this is where we lean further into Yahweh, the God who generates and holds our hope. He is the originator of all silver-linings, the one who knows our deepest needs and yearnings, and the author of all that is Good. When we run out of distractions, reframes and fresh perspectives, God is still there, supplying hope.
We see countless examples from Paul choosing to rely on God and cling to His everlasting hope in the midst of truly dire situations. In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul excels in finding the ultimate silver-lining in the midst of extreme discomfort and hardship. He pursues and models endurance and a recognition that despite his suffering as a prisoner, there is benefit in sharing of the Gospel.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains,most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (NIV)
This isn’t an argument to dismiss our pain or emotions, but to cling to hope and look for light in the midst of them. Pursuing hope, making meaning, and seeking out peace is not to placate or minimize the often irresolvable heartaches we encounter in this world, but to find at least a semblance of a reason to keep going. We don’t need hope to explain away pain or to pretend suffering isn’t real; we need hope to be our lifeblood and our sustenance on the days when we are surrounded by chaos. And typically, when we are navigating that degree of stress, we need to rely on Yahweh to hold the hope strongly in place, as our anchor and our beacon.
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian, Jewish Psychiatrist who survived multiple Nazi concentration camps, developed a framework that is reminiscent of Paul’s approach to enduring suffering. Prior to his imprisonment and torture at the hand of the Nazis Frankl was considering a fresh perspective on the role of meaning-making in the face of difficulty. As he survived hell on earth over the course of three years, his philosophy became more pronounced and contributed to his ability to survive. Frankl concluded that "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." In other words, no one or no event can fully rob humankind of our ability to interpret and react to what happens in our lives. We can choose hope, and we can cling to hope, and we can rely on hope to carry us through whatever crosses our path.
In the midst of our current chaotic world, and in the midst of whatever you may be navigating in this season of life, may you find a path to encounter the Giver of hope, and find that to be enough.
About the Author
Britni is a quiet but fearless spirit who is earnestly seeking the beauty of the redemption that Jesus has personally determined for her life. Committed to the truth that listening breeds understanding and understanding results in compassion, she clings to the power of life’s stories. She has embarked on the venture of discovering her own story and lending an ear to the stories lived out in others and savors the trace of Jesus that is woven throughout them all. Currently, that journey has landed her in a balancing act between the role of wife, momma, and a mental health Care Coordinator.