Category: Discipleship

Hoping in the wrong things

Reflections based on Psalm 37:1–11 and 1 Timothy 6:17.

‘Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God…’ (1 Timothy 6:17)

If we are honest with ourselves, it is so easy to take our eyes off of God and focus on our circumstances, surroundings, peers etc. We can also spend ourselves going after a promotion / new job, a better car or holiday – even starting a family. None of those things are wrong in themselves, but if we put all our energies into them we also inevitably start putting our hope in them too. And that’s when it is easy to get our hopes dashed.

If we are overlooked in our career and see those that we believe are much less deserving take what we feel was our rightful place, then we can become bitter. Like Israel, we can easily forget what God has done for us, and compare ourselves to our ‘enemies’, feeling they are better off than us. But really it all boils down to who are we going to trust. Where does our hope lie? In our career, home, family, leisure activities?

The writer of Psalm 119 shows us where we should be putting our hope: ‘I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.’ (v147) How often do we turn to the Bible for inspiration and guidance when our hopes are disappointed? Is it our natural response – or the last port of call when desperation comes knocking? 

I love the reminder in Psalm 37 that, if we commit to trusting in God, we do not need to fear for our future, even when evil seems to flourish. We can take hold of the promise that we will inherit the land. We need to learn to keep our hope focused God and what He says rather than material things or earthly relationships.

For prayer and reflection: Think about anything you know you have put your hope in over and above God. Now pray and repent of doing that, asking God to help you to trust only in Him.

God’s last word

Reflections on Job 40:1–14; 42:1–6.

In Job 13:15 Job says, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.’ In our passages today Job gets the chance to defend himself to God. This was something he had been longing for throughout his discourse with his friends. He was probably hoping for total vindication by God, in order to show his friends how wrong they had been! But, when God gives him the chance to speak, Job realises he no longer needs to.

In chapter 38 God finally appears and starts by saying ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?’ (v.4). He goes on to reveal His sovereignty through so many things that we do not understand. All the mysteries of nature have Him at their helm.

Once he has spoken, Job’s questions, complaints and demands melt away. Yes, what happened to Job seems totally unfair to our human eyes. But God, by His very nature, is just and fair and so whatever He decides to do, or allow, is fair – however hard that is for us to understand. Remember what we talked about in an earlier reflection? Do we lay down our rights to understand – even when we are hugely disappointed by what is going on around us or to us?

For Job, it was learning the certainty of the character and sovereignty of God that led him to the conclusion that, however inexplicable the circumstances, he could still trust and hope in Him. That, I believe, is the lesson of this book, of this character, for us today. That God wants us to hope in Him not because of what He can do for us, but simply because of who He is.

For prayer and reflection: Father I am sorry that I can view you like a slot machine – I put in my prayer and expect You to produce the answer
I want. I acknowledge You are sovereign, and do not work in ways that I am going to understand always. 

When things seem hopeless

Photo by mateen kazi from Pexels

Reflections based on Job 6:2–21.

‘What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?’ (v.11)

I want to look at one more biblical character in our study on hope. I was drawn to Job, partly because I was surprised to see so many scriptures on hope within the book (although many are about the loss of hope). But it was mainly because, having looked at Hannah and David, I still had one more question. How do we keep hoping in God even when everything around us falls apart or is taken away?

Job was a righteous man that Satan said was only faithful because he hadn’t been tested. So God allowed him to take everything away from Job – his children, animals, servants – and afflicted him with painful sores. Even then he remained steadfast (see 2:10). It was when his friends started saying he must have sinned that Job began to question why he was suffering so much.

Job’s friends just didn’t seem to know how to cope with Job at this point. They believed he must need to repent and said that if he would put his trust back in God: ‘You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.’ (11:18). How often do we judge our friends, thinking that perhaps the difficulties they are facing are the result of sin? While it is important to challenge each other when necessary, we need to be careful that we don’t make wrong assumptions.

Look again at 6:8–13. Have you ever been in a place of suffering that is so bad you just longed to be allowed to give up? I have watched my mother suffer such constant physical pain that I know death would be a relief – and yet still she clings to her hope in God. She is an inspiration to me, and has taught me so much about trusting God through difficulties.

For prayer and reflection: Help me Lord not to judge my friends unfairly, or to lose hope in You when things around me are becoming difficult.

I will yet praise Him

Reflections based on Psalm 25:1–7; 33:18–22.

‘Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.’ (Ps. 25:5)

I love the psalms. Their passion – and their total honesty. They reveal the struggles the authors had with their personal circumstances and how, at times, they literally had to talk to their souls: ‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? … Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.’ (Ps.43:5).

I find refreshment when I turn to the psalms, because they give me hope. Even when I am feeling surrounded or simply low, there is usually a psalm that articulates how I am feeling. But it doesn’t allow me to wallow, as it usually then turns my thoughts to God. 

Have you ever noticed how many times the word ‘hope’ appears in the psalms? It occurs 38 times in Psalm 119 alone! The key to the effectiveness of the psalms is, I believe, the way they are honest but don’t stay there. They turn their gaze heavenwards and allow the truth to bring fresh hope.

If you have never written your own psalm, why not try writing one today? Bring your troubles to God, but also remember to speak His truths and declare ‘I will yet praise Him’.

Optional further reading: Psalm 42, Psalm 119, Psalm 146.

Finding hope through worship

Reflections based on Psalm 57.

Having had a break for half term, we are back to our study on hope. Scholars agree that this psalm was written during the same period as the one we looked at two weeks ago (Psalm 142). But here David seems to be more determined. Yes, he is still in the same situation of men pursuing him for his very life, and also unsure of whether any of his own are set to betray him (see v.4). However, right from the first verse David is declaring that his soul finds refuge in God alone. This sentiment appears numerous times throughout the psalms. For example, Psalm 119:114 says ‘You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.’

Throughout Psalm 57 we see a juxtaposition between the situation that David finds himself in and the truth about who God is. David is declaring who he has faith in, and where his hope lies, while being realistic about what is going on in his life. He also speaks to his soul, telling it to ‘awake’ and goes on to worship God in the final three verses.

This psalm talks to me about the importance of worship even in the midst of trials. I think that is one of the lessons that David learned while in the cave, and I also think it is one that God wants us all to learn through our own personal ‘caves’.

How do we come through difficulties still clinging to the hope we have in Him? By learning to set our hearts and minds to worship Him, even when it may be the last thing we ‘feel’ like doing. From a perspective of worship, our surroundings and circumstances can seem very different. David went on to be the greatest king of Israel and yet he had to learn this lesson – so must we. Believe me, I understand how painful praising through the pain can be, and yet I am totally convinced of how vital it is.

For prayer and reflection: God help me to quickly learn the benefits of worshipping you even when I may not feel like it. You are worthy, whatever I am going through, and I am sorry that I can forget that when I am feeling overwhelmed.

Fighting despair

Reflections based on 1 Samuel 22:1–6; Psalm 142.

Reading in Samuel, we discover that David is running from Saul and takes refuge in a cave. He had already been anointed king by Samuel at this point, but the current king was not ready to give up his throne. It is interesting to see how God allowed David to go through this time of testing. He didn’t simply triumphantly walk onto the throne: God worked on his character through these testing times.

David wrote a few of the psalms while hiding from Saul. In Psalm 142 he is totally overwhelmed and desperate. He believes no one cares about him. And yet, even in the depths of despair, he turns to God. He tells Him how he feels. This might seem shocking – he says to God ‘no-one is concerned for me’ when obviously deep down he knows that God is. But I believe this psalm is important because it shows us that God wants us to be honest with him, in the way that David is here. Notice that he does turn things around though, and it is when he remembers where his hope lies that things change for him. As we see in verse 2 of our Samuel passage, God brings 400 men to him who form the start of his army. While he may feel he is hiding away, God is giving him an opportunity to work on both his own character and the development of leadership skills to run an army.

How do you respond when the heat is turned up in your life? Do you have a tendency to wallow in self-pity? If so, try to articulate that to God rather than keeping it inside and dwelling on it. Then remind yourself that He is the only real source of strength and hope.

I have found that I can have a tendency to get stuck in negative emotions. Learning how to lament, using the psalms as guides, has been an incredibly helpful form of release. I try and articulate all of my emotions through writing them down, and then remember God’s faithfulness to me in the same way.

For prayer and reflection: I am sorry Lord when I hide away from You, too low even to speak. Help me to lift my eyes to You, be honest about how I feel but also remember that You are my hope.

World mental health day

A drawing my daughter did this week for ‘Inktober’, which I felt beautifully encapsulated how fragile we can sometimes feel.

Today is World Mental Health Awareness day. It is great that we have such important issues flagged up on special days, but of course, whether they are dealing with short-term or severe, long-term mental ill-health, many face difficult realities day in, day out. They are the heroes. The ones who have to be brave each and every day – just to get out of bed at times. And not only do they have to face their own inner critic, but, sadly, there is still so much stigma surrounding mental health issues. That is why anything that raises awareness is to be welcomed.

As I was doing research for a piece on Christian fiction for Premier Christianity magazine, which is due to be published in November’s issue, I was, for example, surprised and extremely pleased to learn that there are a number of novelists out there tackling this subject in a sensitive manner in their work.

There has been a plethora of blogs and comments via social media today, much of it more eloquent than I could probably be. So I decided that today I would let a few of those authors speak on this subject themselves, as they seek to provide deeper understanding amongst us all, as well as championing those who are facing this reality each day. 

May I encourage you to take time to learn more about mental ill-health, as I can assure you that you will know people who are struggling right now – perhaps you are yourself. Take time to read – either the fiction the authors below have written or some of the helpful non-fiction that Christian writers and counsellors have put together. I’ve suggested a few of each at the end of this blog.

Firstly, Sharon Garlough Brown has written the hugely successful Sensible Shoes series, which I have mentioned many times here. Her latest book is about Wren, a social worker and person of faith who has her own struggles with mental ill-health. Here is what Sharon told me about why she wanted to write about this subject: “With so many people suffering from mental health issues, I wanted to explore with deep compassion the struggles, heartaches and sense of isolation experienced not only by those afflicted with depression and anxiety, but by those who love them and often feel powerless to help.” 

Angela Hobday (writing as Annie Try) centres her novels around characters living with or overcoming mental health problems – and usually solving a mystery too! With her background as a clinical psychologist she has “worked with clients whose lives are destroyed partly by their mental illness but also by the attitudes of those around them. In my eyes, those who find every day a struggle yet still achieve their goals, or even attempt to, are heroes. I want them to be viewed as such by my readership.”

Fiction:

Shades of Light by Sharon Garlough Brown

Red Cabbage Blue by Annie Try

Non-fiction:

Honesty Over Silence by Patrick Regan

Learning to Breathe by Rachael Newham

The Power of Belonging by Will van der Hart and Rob Waller

The Insight Guides are incredibly helpful on all sorts of subjects, many connected with mental health issues. Here are three that I have had the privilege of working with experts on:

An Insight into Self-acceptance
An Insight into Shame
Insight into Burnout

A prayer of hope

Reflections based on 1 Samuel 2:1–21.

What a prayer! Hannah has just left her son with Eli, giving him back to God as she promised she would. How hard that must have been, and yet she goes away with her heart overflowing with the goodness of God. She knows she can trust Him not only with her own future, but with her son’s very life. This prayer is full of hope for all of us. It offers truths about who God is and what He does: ‘those who stumbled are armed with strength’, ‘those who were hungry are hungry no more’, ‘he… lifts the needy from the ash heap’.

Later in the passage we see Hannah’s hope bearing fruit once more. Juxtaposed against the sin that Eli’s sons were committing, we are told that ‘Samuel was ministering before the Lord’ (v.18). Hannah hadn’t had to give him up entirely – she got to visit him each year, no doubt watching him grow up to be the mighty man of God he became. But of course she had to return home without him, which must have been painful every time. However, God graciously blessed her with five other children. She couldn’t have expected that! 

Can you remember a time when you have had to wait patiently for something but then have seen how God’s timing was not only perfect but He also provided unexpected blessing too? I have seen God’s faithfulness time and time again in my own life. It doesn’t mean there aren’t hardships and frustrations – and I can’t say I like the waiting either! But I am beginning to understand that if we hope in God, He will fulfil all He has promised. Maybe not in the way we expect, but He knows best.

For prayer and reflection: Thank you God that you are totally trustworthy. I thank you for this reminder of how you do us good. Help me to remember these truths always.

A humble hope

Reflections based on 1 Samuel 1:12–20.

We are continuing to look at Hannah’s life this week. I think it would have been totally understandable if Hannah’s soul had been completely overtaken by bitterness. After all, she was being ridiculed by those around her, God hadn’t answered her prayers and even the priest thought badly of her – he asked if she was drunk! But she resolutely held her ground with God. Although troubled, she kept going back to Him. And through doing this, she seemed to push through the suffering and reach a new place of calm. Look at verses 15–18. She had been pouring out her soul to God in grief, but suddenly she gets up and eats, no longer full of sadness. We aren’t told what happened; whether what Eli the priest said to her encouraged her and/or, in her honest outpouring of her heart, she came to a place of leaving the pain with God. I would like to suggest that she learned the lesson of true humility – giving up her right to understand why she was having to wait. 

A few years ago I attended a women’s day with a speaker that challenged us on this very point. Do we cling to what we think is our ‘right’, demanding God give us answers and allowing our hearts to grow cold and bitter as a result? Or do we set our minds to hope in God whatever our circumstances, and lay down our rights to know the reasons behind any delay and disappointment? That day I learned to take a very honest look at my motivations, desires, hopes and dreams – and the self-pitying attitude that can appear at unhelpfully regular intervals. I hope that I, too, can learn to be as persistent, honest and humble as Hannah.

For prayer and reflection: God there is so much to learn from the life of Hannah. Please help me to lay down my rights to understand everything that happens to me, and to trust You always.

Persistent hope amongst the pain

Reflections based on 1 Samuel 1:1–11.

We are going to spend some time in the coming weeks taking a closer look at a few biblical characters to see what we can learn about hope from them, starting with Hannah. 

Hannah was unable to conceive, something that carried such stigma in Old Testament times because it heaped social embarrassment on the family. But, not only that, she was daily taunted by her husband’s other wife. I have not suffered the terrible pain of infertility, but I have close friends who have, and I know the deep-seated anguish that it carries. Indeed, Proverbs 13:12 says ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick’, and I think that is a very accurate description of the pain and longing that is so keenly felt.

What can be hard to understand here is that it says ‘the Lord had closed her womb’. We are clearly being told that God has a purpose in this pain, although often when we read a passage like this all we can empathise with is the torment. Why would He do that? And why was Hannah so resolute in her actions?

This was a time when Israel had been taken over by the Philistines, and most of the people had turned their backs on God. Hannah’s husband was one of the few that still made the trip to sacrifice at the tabernacle. While there, Hannah would pour out her soul to God, learning to cling to Him through her sorrow and plead her cause to Him. She had no idea that the son God would provide would be the one to lead the Israelites to victory against the Philistines.

For prayer and reflection: Do you have any unfulfilled hopes and dreams that you are struggling with today? Take them to God again and ask Him to help you endure with patient faith as you wait.