Hope that Doesn’t Disappoint

““You relied on the Lord,” they say. “Why doesn\’t he save you? If the Lord likes you, why doesn\’t he help you?”” (Psalm 22:8 GNT).

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have probably received this message in one way or another. Whether it be a critic airing his opinion, or the enemy of our souls whispering lies to us. It can feel risky to trust the Lord. To go all in. And it can even appear at times that our trust in him is foolish.

Earlier in this passage, the tone is a bit more confident.

“Our ancestors put their trust in you; they trusted you, and you saved them. They called to you and escaped from danger; they trusted you and were not disappointed” (Psalm 22:4-5 GNT).

The psalmist recognizes God’s work in the past, but it doesn’t line up with the current reality of life. If we look at history, God’s track record for faithfulness is perfect. Therefore we have all reason to believe it will not change. But sometimes, it can feel like we might be the exception to this pattern.

A few months ago, I sat in my neurologist’s office in front of a Zoom call with about 40 doctors from around the world. Thanks to having a very puzzling condition, I became a case study to help train other doctors. The overseeing doctor was asking a vast array of questions involving every area of my life. When it came to spiritual matters, he asked quite pointedly to explain the details of my faith. I sat quietly for a moment, struggling with doubt and shame. When I shared about the greatness of Jesus and my trust in him, would it be discredited because of my long history of illness? How could God be glorified? Would it not be better if I had a testimony of miraculous healing to share with these doctors? 

By God’s grace, I was able to shift the focus off myself and on to him. I saw my illness within the backdrop of the cross, and remembered the story wasn’t over yet. I testified of Jesus as my Savior and greatest treasure. When the doctor asked me why I continued in my faith, my resolve to trust the Lord strengthened. I felt a fortification in my soul that only could’ve come from the Spirit of God within me. Speaking the truth brought confirmation to what I was saying.

I don’t know if my words impacted those doctors, but I know what they did for me. I walked out of that office with more confidence and hope than when I walked in. I overcame my doubts and chose to trust what I did not understand. 

Like it or not, God doesn’t limit himself to our way of thinking or seeing. His way of working goes beyond our understanding. The story of Lazarus reveals this beautiful mystery. When Jesus was called upon to heal Lazarus, he intentionally waited until after he was dead. And his actions were criticized by those who thought they knew better. 

“But some of them said, “He gave sight to the blind man, didn’t he? Could he not have kept Lazarus from dying?”” (John 11:37, GNT).

Even Martha and Mary questioned his love and commitment to them because of his absence in this critical moment. But, the questions and the doubt did not prevent Jesus from carrying out the perfect will of his Father. He knew that greater glory would be revealed on the other side of Lazarus‘s death.

When we need a miracle, and it is not coming, it’s hard not to question God. We want things to make sense, we long for an explanation. Sometimes we need to trust God and give up our desire for understanding. It is better to know God than to know answers.

Up until the very moment that Jesus died, he was questioned and criticized. 

“Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:38-43).

Even Jesus was in a situation where it appeared to those around him that God would not come through. People still doubted Jesus’s divinity because the circumstances did not line up in their thinking. Jesus could have taken himself down from the cross, but he patiently endured, knowing that one day the truth would be revealed.

It was over three years ago that God called me to start writing. It wasn\’t easy then and becomes more challenging with time. Not only am I not healed yet, but I am in poorer health now than I was then. The battle rages on, and many days I feel as though I am losing. It’s humbling, to be honest and vulnerable amid struggle. But that is where God meets us. And when we position ourselves to receive and testify to his faithfulness, we see that our hope does not disappoint.

So, I will leave you with this challenging yet encouraging passage in which suffering ends in hope: 

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5, ESV).