Having a Crisis of Hope

Scripture: We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Observation: Paul has spent time with the Thessalonians, and thus he hasn't just heard about the good work of the church. Rather, he remembers it. He watched in begin and grow, and then he saw all that they did, and what motivated them to such actions. Here, he gives three categories of their actions as a church ... their work, their labor, and their endurance. Side by side with each, he also defines their motivations ... the work was a direct output of their faith, the labor was motivated by love, and they found endurance as a result of their hope in salvation through Jesus.

By these parallels, we then see how Christians are moved to action:

-- Daily activities become aligned to the will of the Lord as a result of faith

-- Acts of kindness and service and mercy are an outpouring of love

-- Strength to keep doing all if it every day is fed by hope

Application: Just to be clear ... if I struggle to make my job a holy vocation, and my service toward others has been lacking, and I am tired of doing it all anyway ... I have a serious problem with my faith, hope, and love.

I would say I have been kinder and gentler toward others than I used to be, so perhaps my love is improving. I would also say I try more and more to at least reflect goodness in my workplace. However, I have backed off from a few ministries over the last couple years. Perhaps, then, I'm having a crisis of hope in my life. I look at my country, and often see no possible way out of its downward spiral. I see young people falling apart mentally and emotionally and morally and don't know how the trend reverses. I believe it is likely core elements like law enforcement and the economy will soon just crumble. And while I know for certain that eternal salvation and joy is assured as a result of Jesus' redemption, I more or less dread the next 25 years.

So, yes, my hope is waning, and as a result my strength is not maintaining, which has impacted my actual labor and work as a Christian.

I ask for the better love of others so I can serve them well. I ask for daily guidance so I can be a light in my workplace. However, I clearly need to work on my hope, because without it I just cannot find the endurance to do the Christian walk.

Prayer: Lord, this may be what I really need, hope. It is true I am struggling to find the possible good outcomes of our current society, to the point where it is hard to think on anything I could be hopeful about. However, I have hope in Jesus, and in your promises, and that is enough. I know you can do anything, and I have hope that every possible future is in your hands. Please renew my strength and endurance today, through hope. Amen.