Our Living Hope

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. . . . In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Standing in line, my six-year-old shifted her feet.

“How much longer, Mom?” she asked.

I sighed, checking my watch. My husband and older daughters had headed straight for the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but we had opted for the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Finally tall enough for the ride, she was thrilled about speeding through the darkness and looping the loop upside down.

At first, the line moved quickly, and our spirits were high. But as it slowed to a crawl, my daughter’s little shoulders began to droop. An announcement over the loudspeaker about a technical problem was met with a collective groan. Still, we persisted, and the joy on my daughter’s face as we exited the ride an hour later made the wait worthwhile.

Waiting is never easy. An abnormal test result, job dissatisfaction, or relationship turmoil can leave us floundering, wondering what to do or how long to wait before making a change. The messy middle of in-between can often feel painful.

Unfortunately, while we’re here on earth, we are stuck between the “now” and the “not yet.” Although Jesus’ death and resurrection have occurred, he has not yet come again, so we are still subject to the sickness and suffering of our broken world. Yet because we know Jesus will return, we have hope. This “living hope” is something to which we can cling. In the three days following Jesus’ crucifixion, his disciples must have felt dismayed by the messy middle they found themselves in. Thankfully, the Resurrection was still to come.

Even while we are waiting, God is still at work. Even if our external circumstances aren’t changing, he is working in our hearts. Let’s thank him for the confident hope we can place in him as we wait.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

In what area of your life are you waiting? Turn it over to God, asking him to help you endure. Thank him that he is with you as you wait.