Hope unseen
by Maria Rudolph
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We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
People sometimes cringe when they hear that I’m a Christian and say that ‘faith stuff’ seems a bit far-fetched. Do I put my trust in a construct that only exists in my head while being surrounded by a world of hard facts and solid proof? Is faith really a matter of blind trust versus actual reality?
Coming to think of it, every person actually walks through each day full of trust and hope in hundreds of things. When we get on a plane or ship, we trust that the engineering was done correctly to avoid crashing or sinking. We don’t check it ourselves. When we enter into a relationship with people going beyond surface-level friendship, we trust and hope that we will be treated well by them and that they conduct themselves as honourable and truthful. When we build a house, we trust and hope that it will be secure and that no earthquake, fire or flood will destroy it. If we waited for solid proof every time, we would never decide to do anything. Trust is required to navigate through life.
Is it, then, really such a big leap of faith to put our hope and trust in Jesus, only because he is unseen? Sure, the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is, for the most part, visually unseen – yet it is noticed and felt all the same. Let’s take stock for a moment and count the blessings just of today, starting with a fridge full of food and a roof over our heads. But beyond God’s daily provision, there is God’s eternal provision.
Daily life as a follower of Jesus is not void of hardships and suffering, quite the opposite. Paul today talks about our groaning (2 Corinthians 5:2) as we long for the daily struggle to be over so we can just spend eternity with God. Groaning! That sounds like downright agony, but doesn’t that resonate with you? While there is a lot of joy in daily living, there is also plenty of pain. Yet surprisingly, it is not only us groaning. The Holy Spirit is also groaning in a way that words cannot express, similar to the deep groaning of labour pains (Romans 8:26) while interceding for us. You read that right! The Holy Spirit is actually interceding for you right now to stay in the will of God. God knows exactly what is going on in your life right at this moment, and the Holy Spirit is already at work interceding for you and working within you to keep your eyes fixed on what is unseen – on the hope you have in Jesus.
Are you currently groaning or rejoicing – or both?
Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me anew today. Thank you for your persistent intercession for me. Help me to fix my eyes on the hope I have in Jesus Christ. I am clothed with Christ and long for the day I can be with you in eternal glory. With your loving hand, lead me through the obstacles and joys of today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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