But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
- Micah 7:7
In the midst of learning to endure, in building the character of a Christian, confidence in what we believe is needed. Confidence that God is who we believe God to be, confidence that salvation will come, confidence to continue to have hope even when we want to give up or give in. Confidence is something, however, that is hard to build.
I sometimes feel, we are constantly bombarded with ridicule. From social media, especially, however from others places as well. It seems to be a point of enjoyment when people tell others that they are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, etc. People, we often don’t even really know believe they have an opinion in what we say or stand for. When a bombardment of degradation is combined with constant visions of everything wrong with our world, it becomes obvious why confidence and hope are hard to find.
However, for people who call themselves Christians there is a different standard or pattern of thought that must be considered. This is part of the character we should be building in ourselves because of Christ who saved us. First, we do not belong to this world; therefore the ideas and ridicule of this world do not apply to us. I can’t tell you how life-giving that statement can be. To help someone understand that though the words of others can be hurtful, they are not lasting, it is what God says about us that matters most, it is in the one whom we place our hope that will one day we will be in a place where there is no more hurt and pain, all because we believe God loves us.
Second, we serve a God of love, who does not ridicule or break down, but as we humble ourselves before him, we are exalted (James 4:10). We should realize that the only opinion that really matters is the one that comes from above, and that of those who choose to uplift us, encourage us, and guide us to live with joy in this life.
Third, we are called to have endurance as we wait upon the Lord. We can boldly ask God to come, believing that he will and knowing that we are secure in His salvation, but our endurance comes with great patience.
Micah, when facing the moral decline of Israel as a nation and as a people, spoke out in a lament. He was saddened by the lack of hope, faith, and love of his fellow Israelites. Micha saw them in a very low place in faith, not following God and living in sin. However, Micah endured, and waited patiently, for he knew that God the Savior would come. Micah’s hope was never diminished. I hope that as you may be facing a time in your own life when hope seems to be running thin, that you will seek the Lord, patiently. Pray to God and know that He will come to you, have hope, God’s presence is near.
Grace & Peace,
Sam