Tag Archives: hope

Reflections on Life, Seasonal Thoughts

Hope in tough times

We are in tough times.  As economic giants like General Motors appear close to collapse, fear continues to spread, and many wonder if there is any hope.

None of this should be a surprise to those who understand God’s ways.   The Bible shows us that the same thing has happened over and over again throughout history.   When times are good, we tend to get cocky and we think we can do anything.  But God has a way of humbling the proud and self-sufficient, and raising up those who humbly depend on Him.

When the angel Gabriel came to the village of Nazareth to tell a young teen-aged girl named Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah, she responded with amazing faith and offered her body to be the Lord’s vessel.   Later, reviewing these wondrous events with her cousin Elizabeth, she burst into song and uttered these memorable words about God’s ways :

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

Jesus’ birth was announced both to the poor – the shepherds in the fields – and to the wealthy and powerful – the Wise Men from the East.  The thing they had in common was humiliity and faith.  They were willing to place their hope, not in themselves but in God’s promise.

In tough times people often look for a strong leader to rescue them.  But ultimately, no human leader can save us – not Michael Ignatieff, not Stephen Harper, not Barack Obama.  The best leaders are those who humbly recognize their own fallibility and their dependency on God.   Ultimately that’s where our hope lies.

The birth of Jesus is only good news for those who know they need hope from beyond themselves.  As long as we persist in the delusion that we have it made,  Jesus has nothing to offer us.  But if we humble themselves and put our trust in the Saviour’s unfailing love, no matter how tough the times, there is good news of great joy.  Merry Christmas !

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Reflections on Life

Why are you afraid?

A recent poll shows that in the wake of this week’s crisis in the House of Commons, 72% of Canadians are very concerned about the future of our country.   The ongoing slide in financial markets, coupled with this week’s news about job losses, has people worried about the economy as well.

The problems are real enough.  People worry because they feel helpless to change these situations that affect their lives.  And the truth is that indeed, we don’t have all that much control over either our government or the economy – so from one perspective it makes sense to worry, right ?

Wrong.  The reality is that worrying solves nothing – it only paralyzes us into inaction.

One day Jesus’ disciples were out on Lake Galilee in a fishing boat and a storm came up.  They were terrified of drowning, and woke Jesus up, begging Him to save them.  Why was he sleeping?  Didn’t he care?   Jesus immediately commanded the storm to cease, and peace returned to the frightened men in the little boat.  But he had no words of apology for sleeping during the storm.  Instead, he challenged them with these words: “Why were you afraid, O you of little faith?”

While many things are beyond our control, each of us has the freedom to make some choices that do affect our lives and the world around us.  Each of us has a measure of authority in a certain sphere that God assigns to us.  At a minimum, we all have authority over our own spirit, our own thought life, our own emotions, our own responses to the people in our lives and the things that happen around us, our use of time and money.  When we allow ourselves to be ruled by worry and anxiety, we surrender our authority to the Devil and become unable to act in faith, unable to take any positive action, unable to make wise choices.  All we can see is disaster on the horizon; so we either do nothing, or make poor choices that only make things worse.

So what’s the solution?  How do you get rid of worry?  The Bible says we get rid of worry by turning our worries over to God.  We need to recognize that worry is actually one of the Enemy’s weapons which he uses against us.  The Apostle Paul tells us to use faith as a shield against these negative thoughts that are aimed at us to bring us down.

I know what I’m talking about; I am someone who used to carry a heavy load of worry and anxiety.  I no longer do.  The change wasn’t instantaneous; it came over many years, as I learned to consciously replace thoughts of fear with thoughts of faith.  One of the most powerful weapons in this fight is the spoken Word of God.  I often speak God’s promises over my own life to encourage myself.  I do it because it works!

Aren’t the problems real ?  Sure they are – and speaking God’s promises doesn’t make them go away.  But it does put them in perspective.  When worries rise up to attack the fortress of my thought life, I put them down with God’s words of truth, and peace returns to my heart and mind.  I am then free to see the landscape around me as it really is, and receive God’s guidance as to the best course of action.  And He does give practical wisdom – if my mind is free to receive it.  Some things I can control; some I can’t.  I need to recognize which situations I can influence, focus on those, and leave the rest in God’s hands – in peace, without fear.  Long ago King David wrote that God guides the steps of those who trust in Him.  I’ve found that to be a true and reliable promise.  Will there be problems?  Sure, but I don’t have to face them alone.  God is with me.  He’ll be with you too, if you choose to trust Him.

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Reflections on Life

God still believes in you

Recently I talked with a friend who is struggling in some key areas.  He and his wife have both been down a difficult road in life, and their marriage is not in great shape.

When my friend told me what was going on,  I felt very inadequate.  I wanted to help him, but the problems seemed so huge.  So I did the only thing I know to do when I don’t have an answer – I went to the One who knows every heart.   During a time of worship, I took some time to quiet my own thoughts, laid the whole situation before God, and sought to listen to the inner voice of the Spirit.  Suddenly I realized that there was something He wanted me to say to my friend.  It was simply this : “God still believes in you”.

I don’t know if my words encouraged my friend (although I believe they did), but I know they encouraged me.  If God believes in me, then maybe I can make a difference despite my inadequacies.  If God believes in me, then I can see beyond the pressures, fears and concerns of the moment, and look for the golden thread of His purpose and calling in my life.  If God believes in me, then my effort to follow Jesus and do the right thing is worth it.

I’ve messed up more times than I can remember.  I stopped keeping track a long time ago … about the same time that I finally got hold of the truth that Jesus loves me, that I don’t need to be perfect to earn His acceptance, that His mercy is for people like me.

When I realize God still believes in me, then I can believe in myself and find the courage to try again.  I can also believe in those around me, and honour and encourage them, even though they too have their faults.  If I need mercy, so do they !

God still believes in you.  Do you believe it ?  It’s true !  And it’s the best news there is.  He doesn’t make bad investments – he only invests in pure gold.   That’s what you are destined to become as you let Him continue to work in your life – pure gold.

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Reflections on Life

A new season

A few weeks ago we scattered my parents’ ashes at a family gathering at their cottage on Cranberry Lake near Seeley’s Bay, Ontario.  It was an emotional time as all of us had spent many happy times at the cottage with Oma and Opa (as most of the grandchildren knew them).  They had both been vigorous, active, and full of life until close to the end of their earthly journey, and had played a huge role in the lives of their children and grandchildren.

Just a few days before the ceremony, Marion attended a shower for our first grandchild.  Our son Simeon and his wife Heather are expecting their first child in February 2009.   This is very exciting and of course we are thrilled.  My older brother Jan, who is already a grandfather, tells me that it is a wonderful experience.

That’s how life is.  One season ends, a new one begins.  One generation passes on, a new one comes on the scene.  I am entering the last lap of my life – Marion and I are the matriarch and patriarch now in our branch of the Hartgerink line.  It seems strange, but that’s the way it is.  I always knew my parents would die, yet somehow it was still a shock – they had always been there, solid, dependable, and now they are gone.

The thought that I will die doesn’t discourage me or depress me, because I know that ultimately I am living for eternity.  But it’s sobering to realize that I am the one now that my children and grandchildren will look up to, as our generation looked up to my Dad.  Will my example be worth following ?  Will I be a blessing to them as I have been blessed ?  Will my life point them to Jesus ?

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