Redemptive Hope in the Midst of Suffering and Sorrow

How are we supposed to rejoice in suffering and be hopeful in sorrow?

After a year full of lunacy, chaos, and loss, how can we practice the art of redemptive hope?

Let’s start at a foundational level.

Do you know what produces HOPE in us? True deep down nitty gritty hope?

I kid you not. It’s suffering.

Suffering is what plants the seed, nourishes, and harvests hope.

If you feel like last year was “stinky”, then I have excellent news for you, my friend! The best crops are actually nourished by a bunch of manure.

So, after all the “fertilizer” of 2020, we’re going to have THE BEST crops of healing, creativity, evangelism, reconciliation, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

But if you don’t believe me that suffering produces HOPE, maybe you’ll believe the Apostle Paul who went through more suffering and hardship than we’ll ever know:

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into suffering, problems and trials,

for we know that they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character,

and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

And this hope will not lead to disappointment.

For we know how dearly God loves us,

because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Romans 5:3-5

Rejoicing when you suffer? To be honest, that’s been a tough verse for me to wrestle with. Because it sounds like it takes a whole lot of heartache and refining fires to get to the good part— the hope. Well. Now I know why God doesn’t wait for us to volunteer to walk through the fire.

However, when pressed and forced with no other options, the fire really does produce gold.

By faith, we’re here to mine the gold (the hope, the proof of things that haven’t fully come to pass) out of 2020.

Excerpt from “Redeeming 2020: How to Find Redemptive Hope in the Midst of Suffering.”

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I pray this leaves you with an impartation of hope and a deposit of peace in those who read it.

I believe 2020 offered more hope and healing than we’re giving it credit for. Contrary to popular opinion, 2020 marks the year where we experienced nationwide waves of renewed socioeconomic respect, racial reconciliation, sabbath rest, and community restoration.

Part two is available now!

Redeeming 2020: Vision Correction. How to Find Redemptive Hope in the Midst of Suffering.

This is my gift to you with an option of adding a donation if you like.

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Walking through your own refining fire?

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