Only Hope

K-Lai — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 10:10:00 -0700

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
- Proverbs 23:17-18 (NIV)

It’s very easy for me to look around and think that other people have it all together. It’s super easy to think that if I just compromised a little bit here or did the “right thing,” I’d be able to get better grades, or get more money, or have closer friends, or whatever. But the truth is, I’ve been blessed beyond I deserve. Because I was once in darkness, and have been brought into His marvelous light, I can’t and shouldn’t complain that my life stinks. In fact, my life is fantastic. Father’s provided me with a place to live, food to eat, a car to drive, and money to spend and invest. I’m in med school, doing what I’ve wanted to do since I was in 3rd grade; I’m living with 3 awesome and fun guys; I have tons of friends around me, I have close friends with whom I can confide everything. I’m very blessed.

But despite all of the blessings, it’s in my flesh to look at what people around me have. Look at their higher grades. Look at their copious amounts of free time. Look at their happy lives. And instead of rejoicing in their blessings, seeds of envy brew in my heart. It’s quite frustrating, really, since I want to walk in the Spirit at all times.

But this passage is so encouraging to me. It reminds me that I don’t have to worry about what I need or lack. A future hope is laid out before me – instead of dwelling on what I want or desire, I can be zealous for God’s honor. By remaining focused on Him, I will receive far greater blessings than I would find doing things on my own. And those blessings are found in the only hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

If fear leads to anger and anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering, then hope leads to faith and faith leads to love and love leads to intimacy. So instead of fearing the worst about every situation, I need to hope the best, because in me and in this world is a God who does all things for good (Romans 8:28). And it’s in that promise of future hope that I have confidence that my God will meet my needs and desires. May He rule in my heart always!

k-lai.com: Only Hope

Only Hope