2016 has been a reminder that nothing is certain. The United Kingdom voted to leave the EU. Crises continue in the Middle East, with many refugees fleeing for safety, but unable to find it. This week of course Donald Trump was elected President of the United States of America.
For some, Trump's Presidency is an exciting prospect, for others, the thought provokes much fear about the future. These kind of events remind us that so often life is beyond our control, and the future completely unknowable. Yet in this life, Christians are called to be full of hope, faith, and love, even when it looks like things are falling apart. Here are some verses from scripture to help in such times.
The sure foundation (Is 33.5-6)
All things in this life are fragile; like the seasons, all things pass in time. But Isaiah's prophecy points to something that truly can be trusted.
"The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."
Waiting patiently (Rom 8. 22-25)
In Romans 8, Paul explains the pain of life in the present, as we long for the restoration of the future. The whole creation groans, we are told, longing for its full restoration. As do we, knowing what we hope for but also aware of the struggles of today. We have to remember though, that hope is a kind of trust, it has to believed in even if we cannot see it. After all, "Who hopes for what they already have?"
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
The Lord is my light (Ps 27.1-5, 13)
In this classic psalm we are reminded that whatever difficulties may assail us, there is a light that casts out all fear. The psalmist looks forward to dwelling with God in his temple, gazing on his beauty, and one day, seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock...I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
The Great Commission (Matt 28.17-20)
At the end of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus calls his disciples to a mountain, to send them out for the mission to which they're called. It feels like a final farewell, but Jesus insists that even though he won't be with them in his human form, he isn't about to disappear from their lives. Some doubt, but Jesus doesn't let that disqualify them from the great call. At his birth Jesus was called 'God with Us', and here he shows that to be true. Nothing is certain in life, but Jesus insists that for us, he always is.
"When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
