How long can we keep gripping the slightest sliver of hope? Should we?
Is holding on for dear life always the best course of action?
If our dreams and plans, yes, even our lives, are deemed as utter failure, or they’re cut short before becoming that which we intended, is that so bad?
Even if we’re convinced we’re doing everything for a righteous cause, that God’s honor is at stake, isn’t there a time to stop our powerless efforts and yield to Him?
For honest reflection, we must remember there is no resurrection without first a death, and victory never comes before the battle.
In many cases, the best thing we can do is exchange what we’ve called hope for simple trust.
What do I mean?
Hope is a powerful thing, yet at times it’s nothing more than wishful thinking. As long as there’s at least a small percentage of things working out, we’re hopeful and perky.
But if and when things take a turn for the worse, we work ourselves into a frenzy trying to maintain our hope.
So instead, why not just give up and trust?
Maybe pretend our situation is akin to the story of Eutychus and Paul (Acts 20).
“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.” (Acts 20:7-12 ESV)
Our dreams, like Eutychus, can become so tired. All work, no joy, no life, and eventually they droop and sag until we’re worn out trying to keep them propped up.
But when we finally release our grip, and the results to the God of the resurrection, life becomes enjoyable once again.
At that point the plans and purposes, the calling of God, are within our grasp.
It’s the same with trusting God for our nation.
God has had a purpose, a calling, on this nation from its inception. But to make America great again will take more than a man, woman, or political party.
So maybe things need to die first, to make room for the resurrection.
Yes, we’re to do what we can. Faith AND works (and all that).
But you know what? Many times we never begin to REALLY trust until we’ve exhausted all our resources.
So, like I said, maybe things need to die, expire, or become even worse before we finally trust the God Who moves mountains and raises the dead.
Maybe THAT is what’s needed to make America great again…
Jan Grace 