Our Hope

By Kendrick & Janna Gilli

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. Isaiah 51:6

Fear is a crippling thing. It can wreck our lives, destroy our minds and bodies, and take our focus off the one thing that can help us: our hope in the Lord.

Lately we have had a lot to worry about. Satan has provided us with an abundance of reasons: COVID, riots, corrupt politicians, failing businesses, illness, death, loss, our economy, jobs … the list goes on and on. And if we let ourselves focus on our world and the downward turn it has taken, well, things could look very bleak indeed. In fact, depression and suicide are on the rise. People are focusing on their circumstances and they are forgetting what is desperately important.

Elim, our world IS going to get worse; the Bible is very clear on that. However, the Bible is also very clear on what WILL last and that is our salvation, our heavenly home, and God’s plan for us. No matter how bleak things seem or how much Satan seems to have taken hold, God is on His throne and has won the war.

This week God sent me a special reminder of this. We are visiting the Sharpes in Colorado and they took us on a spectacular hike in the mountains. It was breathtaking, and as we reached the top, I stopped for a breath on a boulder, looking out over the expanse of mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and lakes. My heart was filled with wonder and joy at such amazing creation and God’s love.

Suddenly and without warning, a huge, violent wind began blowing, and there were dark clouds where seconds before was blue sky. It began thundering ominously and I knew that we better get off that mountain. In that moment, God spoke to me and said, “See my power! I am the God that calms a storm in an instant. I am the God that shakes the mountains. I am God and I am in control!” An awe of my God took my breath away, and I had tears running down my cheeks even as the rain began to pelt me while I hurried down the trail.

Later, after we were safely back in the car, I began to contemplate what God had spoken to me. I felt that God wanted me to share this message of hope with Elim.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4: 29-32

Let’s focus not upon our circumstances, but upon our hope in Christ. Our identity is not our jobs, our economy, or our political affiliations. Our identity is in Christ and our citizenship is in heaven. We need to conduct ourselves as daughters and sons of the King, loving each other well with our words and deeds. During these days of turmoil we need to stand together, setting aside our political views and differences. We need to love and encourage each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. When we start focusing our eyes on the battle around us and are filled with fear, let’s remind each other of our future and that God is on His throne through it all. Let’s stay focused on the real mission at hand: to glorify God by helping people know Christ personally, follow Him completely, and make him known throughout Puyallup and the world.

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

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