Jubilee year of Hope

 

As you approach the altar at my church, you will find a mosaic that represents hope as an anchor above the waves with the star of the sea shining brilliantly above it. I believe hope can often be that way. It is a brightness that fills the heart and guides the way to all that is wonderful, good, and holy, holding us fast to the source of our hope – Jesus.

 

But at other times, hope is the tiniest of lights, barely visible to the human eye, hard to see and harder to hold onto. I’ve been on many cave tours that wander deep into the underground passages before the guide turns off the lights, plunging everyone into total darkness. Your eyes strain to find light, but there is none to be found. No movement can be detected, your own hand that had been easily seen moments before is now imperceptible, even inches in front of your face.

 

It's hard to believe that a darkness that deep can be pierced by the light of the smallest candle, but it can, and the darkness is powerless to overcome it.

 

It is easy to hope when things are going well. God’s blessings are clear and abundant, our lives are filled with joy and love, and our praise and gratitude flow freely from the deepest parts of our souls.

 

But when things are hard and frightening, hope can be in short supply.

 

Difficult or failing relationships, significant suffering and illness, job loss, difficulty finding a job or getting into a school, financial issues - all of these can fill our hearts with fear and darkness. I know, I’ve been there.

 

Yet, somehow, it is possible to hold onto hope and even discover joy in anything that comes our way. Anything.

 

St. Paul tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:4-7) 

 

Do not worry about anything.

Anything.

 

Pray and ask with thanksgiving for everything.

Everything.

 

I have to admit, I am not good at this at all.

 

That is, until I am reminded in reflection, Scripture, or prayer that I am worrying and definitely not being thankful for whatever it is that I am anxious about.

 

When I am anxious, when suffering brings a heavy darkness that seems to have no way out, I turn my gaze to Jesus. I bring my darkness and fear to prayer, asking for relief, but also asking for insight and hope, knowing that “all things work for good for those who love God.” 

 

That in itself is hope.

 

I don’t come filled with joy and acceptance. I come, knowing that Jesus is the one who will get me through. I come, knowing that my prayer will connect me to the light that will show me the way and anchor me in truth.

 

I don’t have to “pray well.” I don’t even have to pray with words. 

 

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27)

 

I simply need to come to the Lord, and turn it all over to Him.

 

I ask for help to see the good. I look for blessings, and every time I do, I find so many of them, and I can be thankful. 

 

Eventually, I can even be grateful for the difficulties and the suffering, knowing that they bring me closer to Jesus, that He uses even these for my salvation, and maybe even for someone else’s. There are lessons I would never have learned without the suffering I have been through in my life. There are messages of hope I could never share without the deep understanding of the pain and struggle it took to find it.

 

And finally, I am reminded that this life is not the final goal. Heaven is. And anything that we confront here on earth can draw us closer to Christ. Not that He isn’t close to us already, but we can turn to Him and embrace his love, forgiveness, and grace more fully because we understand more deeply than before that we cannot do any of this without him. 

 

When we find our hope, when we turn to the light that the darkness will not overcome, when we listen to Jesus in prayer and Scripture, we begin to experience the result of Paul’s exhortation as “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:9)

 

Find your rest in Jesus. Find your hope in His mercy and love, and let His light show you the way.