Hope
The following is a guest post from a younger friend of mine, Setsuna, who I have had the privilege of knowing for a number of years. As both a writing and spiritual exercise, I encouraged my friend to write a series of devotionals. This is the first of what will hopefully be many to come.
The world is an unfair place. Think about it: countless children are born to abusive and/or neglectful parental figures, several people live homeless because they have no means of earning adequate cash, and many people are sent overseas for the sake of human trafficking even to this day.
Likewise, sometimes people who seem to be the most heartless in the entire world tend to be at the top of their game. Countless dictators and warlords have successfully conquered lands and claimed hundreds of lives throughout the history of our planet. Sometimes, people have to take the blame for others who get away with their own misdeeds. The kid who sits next to you in class might always talk to you after your teacher says “no talking”, and then when you respond just to get the other person to quiet down, you’re the only one who gets caught.
All this really makes you wonder: do people really get what they deserve? Where’s the karma in this world?
Truth is, on this side of our lifetime, there really isn’t an answer to that. I know that would be an answer that NOBODY wants to hear, but truth is, the world is run by unfair and imperfect people. There’s a reason why utopic literary pieces are always listed under “fiction”. It’s because a society made up of perfect people is non-existent in our war-torn, sin-infected world. However, one can always rest assured that one day, they *WILL* live in an actual utopia (yes – a REAL-LIFE, ACTUAL UTOPIA!). And only one condition is required…
The sole condition is to surrender your heart to the Lord. When you have God on your side, there is nothing that can stand in your way of a better future. Even if your good future seems like it will never come, remember that it will come in eternity someday. When you’re on the other side, you will see this better than you ever will before.
Not only will surrendering your heart to God promise you a good future, but it will also promise you hope. When all else fails, the Lord will be there. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, but that’s because we’re human. Humans generally focus on the here-and-now, since that’s what they’re currently going through, and a lot of us get too wrapped up in our temporary, physical lives to think much about our eternal lives.
Remember: your life is but a tiny pebble in the universe when compared to eternity. Where you will be when that day comes is much more important than where you are right now. If you’re fretting, you may be thinking, “how can I ultimately get through this and to where I want to go?” Instead, try thinking, “how can I use what I’m currently given to bring glory to God in the long run?”
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12 – 13
The world is an unfair place. Think about it: countless children are born to abusive and/or neglectful parental figures, several people live homeless because they have no means of earning adequate cash, and many people are sent overseas for the sake of human trafficking even to this day.
Likewise, sometimes people who seem to be the most heartless in the entire world tend to be at the top of their game. Countless dictators and warlords have successfully conquered lands and claimed hundreds of lives throughout the history of our planet. Sometimes, people have to take the blame for others who get away with their own misdeeds. The kid who sits next to you in class might always talk to you after your teacher says “no talking”, and then when you respond just to get the other person to quiet down, you’re the only one who gets caught.
All this really makes you wonder: do people really get what they deserve? Where’s the karma in this world?
Truth is, on this side of our lifetime, there really isn’t an answer to that. I know that would be an answer that NOBODY wants to hear, but truth is, the world is run by unfair and imperfect people. There’s a reason why utopic literary pieces are always listed under “fiction”. It’s because a society made up of perfect people is non-existent in our war-torn, sin-infected world. However, one can always rest assured that one day, they *WILL* live in an actual utopia (yes – a REAL-LIFE, ACTUAL UTOPIA!). And only one condition is required…
The sole condition is to surrender your heart to the Lord. When you have God on your side, there is nothing that can stand in your way of a better future. Even if your good future seems like it will never come, remember that it will come in eternity someday. When you’re on the other side, you will see this better than you ever will before.
Not only will surrendering your heart to God promise you a good future, but it will also promise you hope. When all else fails, the Lord will be there. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, but that’s because we’re human. Humans generally focus on the here-and-now, since that’s what they’re currently going through, and a lot of us get too wrapped up in our temporary, physical lives to think much about our eternal lives.
Remember: your life is but a tiny pebble in the universe when compared to eternity. Where you will be when that day comes is much more important than where you are right now. If you’re fretting, you may be thinking, “how can I ultimately get through this and to where I want to go?” Instead, try thinking, “how can I use what I’m currently given to bring glory to God in the long run?”
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