Trust in yourself or circumstances will disappoint

Record high gas prices. Atrocities in Iraq. Terrorist threats.

Grim headlines these days rob us of hope if we dwell on them too much.

But hope is stolen more readily when we focus on personal circumstances not of our choosing: strife in marriage, financial struggle, health problems, difficulties at work. How is there hope when circumstances place us in a crucible of fear, sadness or discontent?

Happily, the Scriptures have much to say about hope — even in the face of circumstances that seem, well, hopeless.

Consider the Apostle Peter, who is perhaps best remembered for denying Christ three times prior to the crucifixion. As soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword and started fighting to protect the Lord.

Peter relied on his own strength and reason rather than trusting in God’s sovereign plan for his son. The effort was futile: Peter managed only to cut off one man’s ear, which Christ immediately healed before he was led away to be falsely accused and crucified. Eventually Peter denied that he even knew Christ.

How did this disciple fail so miserably? His hope was completely wrapped up in himself and his circumstances.

Peter wanted a political Messiah, but God sent a spiritual deliverer. Peter wanted Jesus to be the one who rescued the Jews from Roman oppression, but God instead sent his son to save people from sin.

So Peter considered his wants and his circumstances, didn’t like what he saw that night in the garden, and took matters into his own hands. And he failed.

As Christians, many of us are like Peter. At times we face circumstances that are not of our choosing.

They’re scary, depressing and difficult. And for us, Peter is tangible proof that we’re headed for trouble when our hope is tied to circumstances.

A pastor friend once told me that if our hope is in an outcome, then our hope will be killed if that outcome is not achieved.

We can hope for more money, but what if we don’t get it? We can hope to find a spouse, but what if we remain single? We can hope for sunshine, but what if it rains?

Peter learned the hard way that self and circumstances have nothing to do with our hope as Christ’s disciples.

After Christ’s resurrection, Peter’s heart opened. He learned to place his hope in Christ alone.

In his first epistle, Peter admonishes suffering Christians to place their hope in the eternal life given to them through Christ’s resurrection. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope… .” (1 Peter 1:3, NKJV).

We have hope not in ourselves or in our earthly circumstances, but in a merciful God. As sinners, we deserve spiritual death, but because God is merciful, he forgives us when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. He cleans us up and gives us the hope of eternal life.

Peter goes on to write that this is “a living hope … an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled … reserved in heaven …” (1 Peter 1:4 NKJV). Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have a living hope — a confident optimism in life.

We have that optimism not because life might get better or easier, but because we have a loving Savior who has guaranteed heaven to those who follow him. Our hope as Christians is not based on what might happen in this life but in what we know is guaranteed to us when this life is over.

All of the earthly things we place our hope in can fail. But God’s word says our heavenly inheritance cannot be corrupted, it cannot be defiled, and it is reserved for us — forever.

As Christians, we have a wonderful opportunity to represent Christ when times are tough or when we don’t get what we want. We have a hope that cannot be touched by circumstances.

Others see our hope — that quiet assurance — and wonder how they can live that way too.

What do we tell them? To know hope, we must know the source of all hope — Jesus Christ. We must confess our sins, place our faith in him and let him transform us the way he transformed Peter.

That’s how Peter encouraged those whose circumstances conspired to rob them of hope. He said: “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven — and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all— life healed and whole.” (1 Peter 1:3-5, The Message paraphrase).

Now there’s something worth hoping for!