When we value simple things, hope and encouragement permeate our lives.
A few months ago my citrus trees, a potted lemon and an in-ground orange, were overgrown. I trimmed them severely to shape them. My arms looked like I’d been catching stray cats. Why do citrus trees need three-inch thorns?
I expected neither tree to produce this year, and I was wrong. They both hang heavy with fruit. I’m looking forward to limoncello, lemonade, orange juice, lemon cookies, lemon meringue pie, chicken piccata, and, well, you get the idea. The juice freezes well.
Some life experiences leave wounds.
I’m reminded of Jesus’ words, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2 NASB)
Maybe you’re thinking, “Here comes another one of those talks on how we’re pruned by life experiences, and this is a good thing.”
Sorry, not today.
The phrase “Be thankful. God is pruning you through this experience,” doesn’t ease the pain of hard times. Sometimes I’ve responded, “No thanks, I’ll decline the blessing.” When I couldn’t avoid the problem, I felt anger, frustration and sadness.
The thorns of the orange tree hurt. What do we do with those feelings that demonstrate the opposite of the victory we’re supposed to live as a Christian? When the trouble becomes too much for one person to bear, trite comments sound very empty.
The other day, my wife and I walked out of a store and into the rain, so we rushed to the car. Candace alerted me to a homeless man in a wheelchair by the entrance, mumbling. He only needed to move three feet to find a dry spot. As I watched, a customer entering the store gave him a sandwich.
Sometimes hope comes in small steps, like that sandwich.
One of the main practical duties Christians ought to be concerned with is helping other believers when the burdens they carry threaten to cause them to stumble (Gal. 6:2).
In Philippians 2:3-4, we are told, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (NASB)
In my experience, this doesn’t always happen.
Often, what we really want is for our trouble to disappear now, or at least, to have reason to hope that it will end soon. Meanwhile, our sense of isolation magnifies if we put up a front, to hide our struggles from our church family and friends, or to avoid criticism for our lack of faith.
Hope is a close cousin to faith, but they are separate. Hang with me here a bit.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NASB)
Faith is complete trust in something, based upon what we know.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” (Luke 15:5-6; NASB)
So how many times have you seen flying mulberry trees heading for the beach? Yeah, me neither.
I don’t think the amount of our faith impresses God, and I believe He knows how difficult it is for us to hold fast to it, especially when trials, loss, fear and sorrow overwhelm us.
He knows because our faith comes from Him.
“Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” (Ephesians 2:8-10; TLB)
So what does this discussion about faith have to do with pruning in our lives, you know, the pruning we’d like to avoid? We can’t avoid it.
And we’re not alone, even when we feel alone.
Hope springs forth from faith. Hope is confident expectation that grows from what we know as truth from experience. Jesus wants us to know that He is there in the midst of our troubles. He wept with the others outside the tomb of his friend, Lazarus (John 11:35).
“ For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” Hebrews 4:15-16 (AMP)
All good things come from God (James 1:17). Remember the sandwich? The homeless man received an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment. That sounds like limitless hope just wearing everyday clothes.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (Luke 15:11-12 ESV)
At this time of the year, we celebrate the Hope that came to us, Emanuel.
The Christ child entered into this world in the fulfillment of prophecies foretold in the Old Testament. A friend once told me that God took a big risk when He sent Jesus into this world in the form of a helpless baby. I don’t agree. God is always in control, and His plan will not be defeated. Legions of angels must have surrounded the Child. Yet, the Father’s plan was to sacrifice His Son for us at the right time.
That sounds like a Father Who cares for us deeply. Think of faith and hope this way. A father promises his daughter he’ll take her to the park for a pony ride on her birthday. She believes him, and that’s faith. When the little girl squeals with joy thinking about her upcoming pony ride, that’s hope kindled from her faith in her father’s promise.
Again, hope often comes in small steps, perhaps as a phone call from a friend, or a good result from an MRI, or a hug when you’re at your lowest. Take the sandwich, and yes, rejoice.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)
When you feel alone with your anger, fear, or sorrow, He puts His arm around your shoulder, and says, “I’m here, and it’s okay to feel as you do.”
I’ll offer a few lines from a poem I wrote a few years ago, during a dark time. If you’re feeling the thorns of life, I pray these words will lift you.
How strange, this candle lights so little way,
bright Infant flame in the ink of night.
Still, love remains as yesterday.
May the joy and peace of the Christ Child be with you. Noel.