By Faith, Not By Sight - Marnie Pohlmann

I need new spiritual glasses that see in the dark.

I often find myself in black circumstances, struggling with health or relationships or choices, and when I realize I have been stumbling about I am often confounded by where I find myself. My vision has blurred. I squint but can hardly see the shadow of God moving. I try to follow but become distracted, then I stub my big toe on whatever circumstance has befallen me, and the pain shoots through my heart and mind.

In those times, I am not the least bit happy. I begin to complain and whine about my situation. I slip away from God’s footsteps and the path He leads me on, falling into the ditch to wallow in the mud of self-pity.

Yes, I’ve decided I need new spiritual glasses so I can see my way through those ever-present dark times. Not like sunglasses, that shade my eyes from stark reality, but Son-glasses with infra-red lenses that show Christ’s blood awash over my life; God’s fingerprints in, through and over all the situations I find myself in. 

Do you need this sight as well? Do you know where we can get optics like that?

The words of Paul in Romans 12:12 provides a prescription for spiritual glasses that see in the dark.

       "Rejoice in hope,

                      be patient in tribulation,

                                   be constant in prayer."

Like my last prescription for new bifocal lenses, I had difficulty seeing with understanding at first, so I needed to study each word of this verse. My interpretation is this:

            

        Be glad. Delight in God because in God you have placed your trust.

                     Persevere with no complaining, because God is with you even in the struggles.

                                  Continually converse with God because God is worthy of thanks and adoration.

That makes it clear, doesn’t it? You see, it’s all about focus.

I know these spiritual spectacles are not easy to wear even when life is going well, so it’s no surprise that, like bifocals, it may take time to adjust to rejoicing, not complaining, and thanking God during difficult circumstances. The discipline to do so will chafe, especially those places right on top of my nose that are easily seen or just behind the ear that are less obvious to others. I will want to stop what I know is best because I feel the pain and discomfort.

However, I know the more I wear them, the more I will become accustomed to the fit and to the clarity of sight. I believe that as I delight, continue, and faithfully trust God day in and day out, I will be able to wear these spiritual glasses even when I find myself in times of dismay.

This prescription will light up God’s path for me through any circumstance. Focusing on this view will show me all that I have to praise God for. I will see, by faith, that I can trust God to lead me, to hold my hand in the darkness just as He does in the light.

When I refuse to focus on my circumstances but choose instead to capture thoughts of discontent and squish them, like bugs, between Christ’s death on the cross and His rising from the grave, I am delighted, not dismayed. I won’t need to complain to everyone who will listen. Whining is packed away as I look forward with excitement to the adventure God is taking me on. I will quietly discuss with Him all my questions and observances. Step by step I will continue focusing on life with God. His glory lights the way. I do trust He has a good plan for me, despite the difficult trail I have stumbled along. 

When my spiritual eyes focus on God, I cannot help but delight in Him.

I can focus on the hope that salvation provides, and so rejoice.

God holds my future.

I can carry on, step by step, without stopping and without complaining, because I am not alone.

God holds my hand.

I can constantly converse with and adore God, because He shows His love over and over.

God holds my heart.

As I learn to wear these spiritual glasses that focus on God, I may still stub my big toe in the dark, but through faith I will not lose sight of the One who walks with me, holding my hand.

Living With and Rejoicing in Hope .... Jocelyn Faire

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 

These three beautiful phrases provide a safe nest for a hurting heart. This verse invites rather than commands, as though Paul is letting us know in the kindest way that God is for us. This is His wise encouragement on how best to get through the tough times. 

How can I even begin to express to people what Hope has done for me? Three years ago, I led a grief seminar where a woman said to me, “You use the word hope a lot, what do you mean by it?”This was an open seminar and even though the host was Christian she advised me that most of the attendees were not. Each of the group members had significant recent loss. I was thrown off a bit with the question and recognized that hope is a term we believers toss around thinking others have a similar definition for it. I explained that for me hope had a spiritual component to it, hope was what allowed me to believe that there was still an expectation of having something to look forward to. And for myself, I knew that who or what we put our hope in is what really matters. Hope in God gives me confidence that whatever I go through, I will not go through it alone. That is worth rejoicing over. That is what gives me an inner smile; because I do not grieve as those who have no hope. Life is very tough when you have lost hope. Hope grows in the shadows, and shadows are dispensed by the son-light. 

Hope is a gift to be shared. Recently on a return visit to Alberta and the condo I lived in for five years, I met Elysse. We had lived in the same building for five years. I knew her as the owner of the trendy consignment store I loved to shop. She knew me as a client and a friendly neighbour. I said hello to her as she sat in the lobby waiting for someone at the door. She made some reference to not having seen me ... a bit more chit chat followed ... then she said: “since my daughter died” ... at which point I stood up and asked “Can I give you a hug? I know what it is like to lose a daughter.” Conversation and support followed. She asked questions of me, I spoke from the heart, I held her hand, I told her I knew how hard it was ... she spilled out more and more. Several people walked by us in the lobby, some in curious stare, others ignoring us. I sat close to her, frequently rubbed her shoulder. This was a holy moment, God and I knew it. My heart breaks when I hear a mother open up with her loss of a young adult child/any age child, and I want that mother to know that she is not alone in this struggle. She has others who have gone through this. The outcome is not mine to know, she just needs the message of love, encouragement and caring support for her hurting heart. 

Patience in tribulation. Tribulation means different things, but it always is a painful and difficult time. Chaim Potok says: One learns of the pain of others by suffering one's own pain, my father would say, by turning inside oneself, by finding one's own soul. And it is important to know of pain. I cannot claim to have patience in tribulation, I just know that the pain of grief is like a shadow that hangs around even on a sunny day.

Although I know I will never feel as if I am constant enough in prayer, I do believe that prayer is the key we have been given to unlock heaven's door for inner sanity and peace. 

With the help of the spirit, these three phrases invite me to experience the strength to live with hope in the everyday ordinary aspects of a life filled with reasons to rejoice. May my words, written or spoken reflect this. 

Hope in the Struggle - Carol Harrison

Romans 12:12 tells us to, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Rejoicing pours out with no problem when things are going well, when hope fills my heart. I love those times when praising God comes easily, when it flows from my heart and out of my mouth or through my writing. Hope encourages me and allows me to encourage others too.

Being patient in tribulation, those difficult times of life, can and has been a struggle. During times when life does not go as I thought it might, or hoped it would drains energy and threatens to remove my focus from the path God has laid before me. These hard times which have shown up more often than I wish they would.  Satan's taunts and negativity shout to be heard above God's still small voice. Questions about whether I am following God's design for me, sharing his message and whether I can be confident in using the gifts and abilities God has given me threaten hope and glimpses of joy become fewer and fainter. I begin to doubt what message I am supposed to be sharing with others. Maybe it is that I doubt the ability or the manner in which to share the message of hope in the middle of difficulties more than what than the importance of the message of hope found through God. 

During one incredibly painful circumstance a few years ago, I sat across from our pastor and voiced some of my frustrations, doubts and questions about what was happening as well as what to do next. It felt like one hard event after another slammed into our lives like waves rolling in on top of each other, each one feeling higher and harder to overcome than the last one. He encouraged me to be patient, trust God and spend time listening to God. Then he said, "Just look at all the illustrations you have when you speak or write."

I remember my reply, "Couldn't I just read about them and what happened to others?"

His gentle voice replied, "It doesn't work that way."

Even though I knew this, I hoped for an easy fix or way out of the current situation. Looking back I can see God's leading, his guidance and his protection through many circumstances I would rather have avoided. Some I have used as illustrations which in turn encouraged others.

The key for me and I believe for all who follow God is at the end of the verse - be constant in prayer. I must choose to take some quiet time and return to the Word of God, trusting the promises of a never changing God. When I do that and reflect back on his provisions through other times of negativity, doubt, pain and turmoil, hope surges in. I can once again begin to rejoice and be glad in the hope that only God offers even when darkness threatens to consume me.

Being patient, especially in tribulation, takes great effort which I have no strength to do by myself. I can only accomplish any semblance of patience by accepting God's gracious help. Verses like Romans 12: 12  serves as a reminder to always Rejoice in hope,  be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." which brings my focus back to what is essential - time with God. The Bible verses ground me in truth and facts rather than wallowing with my fickle feelings and emotions.

Taking time to listen to God, to hear the affirmations he sends my way and to play with word maps to see how ideas, plans and God's leading fit together help navigate life's uncertainties. They  help solidify a direction and a message. The lessons learned through the tough times in life provide great illustrations to share that message of hope in our broken world.
 

As a speaker, published author and storyteller, Carol Harrison is passionate about mentoring people of all ages and abilities to help them find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She shares from her heart, telling stories from real life experiences and God’s Word to encourage people and help them find a glimmer of hope no matter what the circumstances. She believes we need to continuously grow in our walk with God and lives out her storytelling passion by speaking at women’s events and retreats, Bible Camps as well as school assemblies and church events. Carol is a wife, mother of four adult children and grandmother to twelve. She makes her home is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.