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Busy seasons or times of great change can be very disorienting. Whether you are a planner or not, sooner or later we are met with unexpected or overwhelming circumstances. Christians can take great comfort in knowing that God is not surprised and that He prepares a way for His people. Our hope is “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:19), and we do not have to wait for the future to experience it.
My church has been undergoing an extensive building project, and we have been meeting off-site for months, with more on the horizon. It’s uncomfortable and inconvenient. It feels very slow, and there are setbacks. Even so, there is excitement in the midst of the mess. We are all looking forward with hope to a future joy.
It is a good reminder of the ever-present nature of God in the local church. We are reminded that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1). The Lord continues to meet with us no matter our location because He is committed to building His church, and no surprises or conflicts will delay His plans.
Solomon reminds us, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov. 13:12). What we often see surrounding us is the conflict, the struggle, the disappointment in waylaid plans. Sometimes we are heartsick over our circumstances. We may feel alone, besieged by half-truths, stuck in our own sin or the sins of others. When we realize this, we can check the source of our hope. Christians are not only waiting for a future reality; we are surrounded on all sides by a very present hope.
When discouragement and discontentment seep in, we can draw from hope like a resource. Our hope is found in God’s unchanging Word. Also surrounding us are God’s people—the testimonies of God’s goodness, the fellow partakers of the means of grace, the real experiences of God’s faithfulness over time. Gathering with our local church on the Lord’s Day is one of the ways by which we build our hope.
We can look up from our circumstances and ask the Lord to give us new eyes, ears to hear, and a voice to proclaim truth in darkness. Praise God that our hope is not built in our environment or the strength of our hands. It is built in two unchangeable things—the unchangeable character of His purpose and His oath (Heb. 6:17). Hope for the Christian is not only a feeling; it also includes calling to mind the promises of God and recalling His practical provisions for His people in time and space.
Once we are back to our regular schedule in our newly expanded church, I’m sure that we will have moved on to new struggles. In each season, let us not forget that the prayers and desires that the Lord has already fulfilled and has promised to fulfill in Himself. Let us build our hope along the way. The greater future joy is coming.