Peace&Hope Advent week 2
I took a breath and timidly approached the edge. “This is crazy” I thought and immediately a surge of doubt swelled in my mind. Backing up I knew I had to reset and just go for it. I will never forget that moment attempting to jump off a immense boulder into a freezing mountain lake. I probably stood on that boulder, towering 40 feet above the water for a good 20 minutes. Beads of sweat dripping down my forehead but not because of the heat it was the fear. Fear of the unknown in the proceeding events after I would jump. People were in the water marking the shallow parts, giving me a bullseye to hit, if I wanted to survive. Standing up there, after being reassured by another jumper, I was still paralyzed in the ridiculousness of it all.
If you go back to Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20), I can imagine him in his deliberation room wringing his hands, maybe even with drops of panic induced sweat. All was going well for him but now the army stood before the gates. They were STILL there. After his declaration of Hope in God the situation had not changed. If anything, the situation became even more sever as doubt in God was being hurled over the walls into their ears. His next step was the most ridiculous action he could have taken. Some may have even called Hezekiah reckless.
By taking that letter and putting it before the LORD he made an absurd act of Hope, a confident decree of faith, and an even more bold declaration. Hezekiah’s passionate conviction of God’s promises and commitment to his people led to a confident expectation that God would care for Jerusalem. Hezekiah’s radical hope did not waver and in fact delivered him. I wonder if He had already heard these words from the prophet Isaiah or he was aware in other promises given to his grandfather or throughout Israel’s history. No matter how, the promise brought peace to Hezekiah which allowed him to act in confidence, no matter how ridiculous.
“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.” Isaiah 43:1-4
I think this is why Peace and Hope go well together. One cannot act on their Hope unless there is a peace or confidence to move from. Peace brings clarity and quiets our hearts to hear God’s assurance. This makes seeking God’s Peace a priority. Anxiety and fear uproot peace and that is why we become paralyzed. I can imagine Hezekiah battling the fear or anxiety of the situation, but he immediately took it to the Prince of Peace, in whom he was relieved of the fear and given peace to act in a Radical hope.
The Church should be a demonstration of that same radical Hope that is ridiculous. The Hope we see in Hezekiah does not make sense to the world, but it completely rests on God. (Remember, His ways are not our ways.) When it rests on God, we experience, what Paul says, “A Peace that passes all understanding.” Hope doesn’t hold out for a short time and then shifts the conviction because we are not getting what we think. Hope holds fast and never gives up. It doesn’t make sense. Yet, if we are relinquished to Christ and in unison with the Spirit we will be carried through. Eventually, I just had to run and leap. When I did it was spectacular! Radical Hope in God requires the same mindset. Hezekiah and to just run and leap into the LORD’s hands. When he did it was spectacular! What anxiety or situation are you facing today that requires God’s peace? How can you make that same spectacular act of Hope in that situation? May this week you experience God’s Peace and gentle reminder, “You are Okay”, as you lay your anxiety and worry at God’s feet.
