Despair Gives Way to Hope
"But we had hoped that it had been he who would have redeemed Israel; and, besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done." Luke 24:21
To have hope is good. These two disciples were experiencing despair not because they dared to hope but because the expected God to act when, where and how they thought He should. As a result, when God did act, they failed to recognize His hand at work. They were in danger of missing one of the greatest works of God. Instead of rejoicing in faith, they were wallowing in despair - "we had hoped." When we think this way, we miss what God is really doing. Our infinitely wise God knows and does what is best in response to our needs and prayers.
In His infinite wisdom, He knows both the right way and the right time to solve a problem or answer a prayer. Consider the disciples on the evening of the resurrection, As they walked home they were filled with despair because in their eyes their hopes had been dashed. They failed to realize that God did exactly what He said He would do when He said He would do it. Why were they is such a state of mind. They could not believe without seeing. They lacked true faith.
Listen to their report: "Yea, and certain women also of our company amazed us, who were early at the sepulcher; and when they found not his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even as the women had said; but the saw not." (Luke 24:22-24) Hear those last words "but they saw not." Faith that demands evidence is not faith. Faith that cannot believe God's Word does not bring hope, peace and joy. It only brings despair and discouragement.
The writer of Hebrews gives us the essence of true faith in eleventh chapter and verse one. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." When our faith rests upon the promises of God, we do not need to demand that God work in any specific way. We should just sit back and watch and wait for God in His wisdom to respond to our need in His time and His way. This is not a time for inaction on our part. We do what God has instructed us to do in His Word without putting any specific expectations on God. The Psalmist said, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God; for I shall praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (42:5)
Our hope is based upon God's trustworthiness not our expectations and dreams. Paul reminds us that we "walk by faith and not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) Thomas would not believe Jesus was risen from the dead until he saw Jesus and touched Him. In response Jesus said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29) Peter adds these words, "Whom (Jesus), having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8,9)
Having the ability to let go and trust God with our problems allows to escape despair and discouragement. We can experience joy unspeakable in the midst of our difficulties as we look for God to act in infinite wisdom.
