Why You Can Feel Hopeful About the Future
Photo by Mike Scheid
Do you look at the world and feel like everything is falling apart?
All of us are experiencing crisis and chaos to one degree or another, but we don’t need to live in fear because there’s a solution for everything we’re seeing.
When we, as a family, are secure in God’s love and purpose, we can access a realm of power and authority that allows us to attend to other aspects of society as well. Knowing God’s love—experiencing it personally, in our own lives—allows us to step into the world as ministers of reconciliation, like the apostle Paul talks about:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:17–19 NIV)
When we look around and see the enemy roaring, we don’t need to be intimidated. Instead, we get to discern what God is doing and then give our best in whatever sphere of influence He has set before us: education, finances, entertainment, government, church, etc. Likely, there is one specific area that delights your heart more than the rest, and that’s the area He’s called you to. You get to carry His love there.
Everything the Lord does is beautiful and on purpose, including your special calling to reconciliation.
Every Blessing and Your Marriage
In the beginning, God created man and woman, and they became one flesh. Holy matrimony, with God at the center—that was His original purpose for humanity.
With the fall, the idea of marriage and family became much more difficult. Tainted by sin, humankind struggled to find life and hope.
But then Jesus came. He shed His precious blood on the cross, rose from the grave, and changed the situation forever, so we could leave behind the kingdom of darkness and take up our place in the kingdom of light.
Because of Jesus, God has given us absolutely every blessing of heaven to bring His kingdom to earth:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Eph. 1:3)
You and your spouse have “every spiritual blessing” when it comes to bringing reconciliation to the people around you. Those good, good things are stored up for you, and you get to walk in this verse and not doubt.
The next time you look around and feel intimidated by the darkness, remember Ephesians 1:3 and that God’s love is here to change the situation.
Despite Everything, This Is Your Season
In his book Ekklesia, Dr. Ed Silvoso presents a powerful view of your life:
The Ekklesia, Jesus’ Church, was never meant to resemble a prisoner-of-war camp waiting to be liberated. On the contrary! God has a hope and a future for each one of its members. His plans are for good and not for evil. Furthermore, the Bible states with no ambiguity whatsoever that the saints, the Church, will overcome the devil and his demons here on earth (see Revelation 12:11). Not to believe this means not to preach it, and not to preach it means to resign ourselves to mere subsistence. This would not only be tragic, but would constitute a dereliction of spiritual duty.
Many of us feel like we’re watching our beloved world get turned upside down, and it’s causing us pain. Let’s take a deep breath and remember Christ in us, the hope of glory. There is a solution to the pain we’re seeing, and it begins with knowing His love.
Don’t listen to fear or doubt in this season, but fill yourself up with His love. That’s where transformation starts, because His love brings healing. Then it goes out from there to your sphere of influence and to the rest of the world.
Realize you’re standing on the edge of an amazing, beautiful opportunity to change the world, and say “yes” to whatever God has put on your heart.
Your heavenly Father loves you more than you realize! Here are a few articles on related topics:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.