As we get older and we begin to watch the next generations change some of the things that we hold dear, we begin to grumble.
So often I hear complaint after complaint about where the country is headed and how if things don’t change, we are headed for disaster.
The interesting thing is it comes from both sides of the aisle politically, and equally among the genders. It is not a unique experience to struggle with hope for the future.
Some of it is about our need to control things. The less our generation is in control, or the less our party is in control, or simply the less we are in control, the more we fear the outcome. We worked hard as young adults to gain control of our lives, and every time that control is threatened we fear the loss that will no doubt follow.
Without thinking about it, we have placed our hope in ourselves.
I don’t know if this is true for everyone, or if everyone has taken the time for self-reflection, but I am glad that I don’t have to hope in my own abilities. That doesn’t mean that I don’t think I am capable in many ways, but ultimately, I want to hope in someone that is better than me.
For example, I suffered a heart attack years ago, and as I was sitting in the room waiting for the nurses to come and take me to surgery I had a quick few moments of wrestling — wrestling with myself and my inability to control my situation.
There was nothing that I could do to fix my heart, and I didn’t know any of the team that was going to be performing some very intricate surgery. In that moment, my hope had to shift from myself to someone else.
The prophet Jeremiah lived in a time when his beloved city was being taken over and destroyed. His people were being taken captive and relocated to a new city. He was in great despair and wrote a whole book called “Lamentations” about his concerns.
The people of God had lost control of everything in their lives.
In the midst of his lament he makes a great observation.
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:21–23 (ESV) What could be more profound? While losing complete control of his future, his city and the people he loved, he turned to the greatest hope any of us can have — Almighty God.
Hope can always be found in the steadfast love of God and His mercies that are new every morning.
Trust in Him and find peace.
Pastor Rich Cummings was called to Emmanuel Baptist Church in August 2022 and he has been a pastor since 2006. He has an MDiv from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He may be reached at rich@ebccassville.
com.
