There is always hope in the Lord because He is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than anyone and anything. We can always rely on Him and turn to Him.
Recently, I was thinking a lot about why it is so rare for good things to happen. With the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, it can be hard to have hope for the future. Some might argue this is halfway across the world and doesn’t personally affect individuals living in the Western Hemisphere, but this is not true. Simply because we are not present with the individuals being affected does not mean we do not feel their pain and misery.
In the same way, the recent mass shooting in Maine has left many people feeling scared and hopeless for the future. As people who are living in the twenty-first century, we would think humanity would have come a long way and wouldn’t want to hurt their fellow man; however, war, death, and pain are at an all-time high. With weapons easily accessible to individuals and rage in their hearts, it is not surprising so many bad things are happening. With all of this in mind, is there a reason to hope? Is it selfish to want good things to happen?
The Reason for Bad Things
With all the horrible things that happen in the world, it is important to know the reason for bad things. Many people blame God, but He isn’t the one to blame. God never intended for bad things to happen nor did he ever want mankind to endure the pain, hardship, and suffering that we face throughout our lives. The Lord wanted us to have an eternity of peace, love, and safety. As it is, we are not currently seeing this reality; however, we will see it one day when God makes all things new (Revelation 21:4).
The reason for bad things is sin. Everything that is wrong in the world is because of sin. God did not create sin nor does He cause anyone to fall into sin. Rather, God despises sin and longs for the day when He eradicates it. Sin entered the world at the time of the fall of mankind. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. By disobeying God, they were now separated from Him and were dead in their sins. As a result of their disobedience and sin, they were removed from the Garden of Eden as well as they would have to face death one day. Similarly, we too all have to face death one day.
Some might argue that they are not like Adam and Eve, and wouldn’t have done the same thing they chose to do. This is an invalid argument because if you have sinned, which we all do, then you are equally guilty of the fall. All of us freely choose to disobey God and to commit sins. None of us are sinless nor are any of us guilt-free. The Bible tells us, “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one’” (Romans 3:10).
As this Bible verse tells us, nobody is righteous. We are only declared righteous before the Father when we place faith in Jesus. This is the imputed righteousness that is given to us when we believe in Jesus. By placing faith in Jesus, we are declared righteous, given a new life, and are forgiven of our sins. It is only through placing faith in Jesus that we can be redeemed. There is nothing we can do to “earn” our salvation.
Salvation is only granted by placing faith in Jesus (Acts 4:12). Mankind caused the fall as well as the exodus from the Garden of Eden. It is our fault as humans that we are separated from the Father. The good news is that God has not left us without hope. Rather, the Father sent His Son to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16-17). By Jesus dying for our sins and conquering death, we can now be saved through His blood shed on the cross for us.
Turning to God
At the present time, it can be hard to believe anything good could ever happen. I have also been in this same rut especially since I struggle with depression. Through the lens of my depression, everything looks hopeless. Despite how things might look hopeless, know that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). There is always hope in the Lord because He is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than anyone and anything. We can always rely on Him and turn to Him.
With this in mind, understand that there is nothing selfish in wanting good things to happen. As Christians, we see how dark and sinful the world is, and sadly, it will probably only get worse as more time passes. Wanting good things to happen is not a sin. In fact, it can actually be a reason to hope. By wanting good things to happen, it means you have not yet given up hope. Don’t give up hope now. Continue to pray for good things to happen by turning to God.
Even if good things don’t happen overnight, God will answer prayers in His timing and in His way. While it can be difficult to wait for an answer, it is worth it. It is also important to not grow discouraged when things don’t take a turn in a positive direction right away. Give it time and keep leaning on God. The Lord hears all of your prayers and not one of them goes unnoticed by Him. Keep on turning to Him, tell Him your concerns and desires, and keep your hope in the Lord.
Resting in the Hope of Christ
As you are doing all you can to pray and keep your hope in the Lord and the great things He can do, allow yourself to rest in His love. It can sound difficult to remain calm when things are so hectic, but we can rest in the hope of Christ. Although things might not be fixed overnight, we know God is never sleeping. In the same way, things might never get better until God restores all things; however, we can still have hope in Him. While this might not be the answer you were looking for, it is a biblical answer.
We will all undergo terrible things in our lives, but we can praise God that one day we won’t have to worry about these things anymore. Our earthly lives are temporary—they are not eternal. One day our worn bodies will change into our glorified bodies and we will spend eternity with God forever. Remember this truth when you are overwhelmed with all the bad things happening around you.
God never wanted these bad things to happen. All of the bad things are because of sin in the world. Sin will be eradicated one day and there will be no more bad days. Therefore, understand it is not selfish to want good things to happen. To want good things is a beautiful thing because all good things come from God (James 1:17). Keep on praying and putting your hope in God. There will come a day when our days will be filled with love, laughter, and peace. Look forward to this day with a hopeful and secure heart.
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