Are you losing heart and hope?

The world commands us to turn against the teachings of Christ and embrace the lies of Satan. The news is 24-hour cycle full of violence, protests, war and murder. Inflation continues to rise while paychecks remain small. Politicians attack Christian values with their rhetoric and proposed bills in Congress and state legislatures. It’s easy to lose heart. It’s easy to become hopeless. Yet, suffering is nothing new to our Lord and it will never be anything new to His followers. Rejoice, my brothers and sisters. Never lose hope. Our hope does not rest in this world, but in the Savior.

Suffering draws us closer to Christ. It teaches us obedience and dependence. The writer of Hebrews expresses this concept even with Jesus. “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8) Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He was God incarnate yet subjected His will and life to the desires of the Father. He knew that submission and surrender would lead to suffering. He obeyed anyway and, despite the suffering He witnessed all around Him and His own suffering, He never lost hope. He is our example.

The culmination of Christ’s suffering came on Calvary. The primary reason he died on the cross is for us. It was to save and redeem us from our sins. His suffering was also an example to all of us.

We all have had (or still have) that individual that we admire and seek to follow. It may be a teacher that inspired us to be better. It may be a boss that believed in us and took a chance on us. It could be a friend or relative that leads by example in how to treat others. Jesus is the true example of how to face suffering without losing hope.

Jesus always looked beyond His current circumstance, even during suffering, and to the greater reality. Perhaps the two most powerful examples of this are shown during His Passion. “Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) He knew the end of His suffering was coming, but those that were shedding tears for Him would shed more tears in this life.

A few verses down, we see Jesus’ sight reaches beyond the nails of the cross and the mockery of Calvary. “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do’. They divided his garments by casting lots.” (Luke 23:33-34)

What do we glean from all of this? We must expect to receive attacks from those opposed to Christianity and righteousness. We should not be surprised when we encounter the venom of hatred aimed at us. “Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3)

Whether it is a struggle against external attacks against your faith and values or if it is a fight to overcome your own sin, remember that suffering is a part of battling against a world opposed to Christ. But our hope is in the One that overcame this world. Our hope is grounded and rooted in the Lord. We have a reason to always have hope. We have Jesus.