Yea, staring down the beast is a moving idea, but how in the world do I do that? How in the world does anyone do that?
One of my best friends and mentors sent me a brief facebook message. God used a sentence and half to remind me of the spiritual warrior's mindset.
The problem with the idea of hope is that it sets up for pain. We have all heard the saying "Don't get your hopes up." When someone allows hope to penetrate the heart and provide drive, the failure of whatever he or she is hoping for is that much more emotionally devastating. I imagine hope to be like the carabiner of a rock climber. When a carabiner is put to good use the mountain is easier to climb. Because the carabiner has helped the climber gain so much height, if the worst happens and the rope breaks then the fall is that much more devastating. I believe that is the tradeoff of hope. A risky something to help hold you up.
I think that in spiritual life, those that trust God dare to hope. Those with faith are not afraid to fall. If the worst happens and the rock climber's rope breaks, faith argues that God is there to catch regardless of how far the fall is. When God is there to catch one of His children even the extra height from using the carabiner of hope will not result in __________ death (mental, emotional, psychological, spiritual... I am not honestly sure what should go there). I wager that it will still hurt worse after hope, but God does not drop a child.
Hope is not something that we are taught. Humanity is often quick to throw in the towel. "Let's be realistic. Let's be scientific." Abandon ship and cut our losses. In America especially, I think that too much of the warrior spirit is extinguished by complacency and comfort. When life is so easy (and lets be honest - most of the time it is), it is difficult to SEE the war ... much less fight in it.
Furthermore, I believe that this invades our spiritual lives on an alarming level. I think that many take American complacency and make God's army into God's tea party far too often. The people we look to in the Bible were on mission for God to an alarming degree. They were living with eternity in mind and counting ALL loss for the purpose of the Gospel. Name one time in your life where you have done that. One. I didn't think so. I know I can't name one, but I want that for God's people, and I want that for myself. I want to be about what counts. I want to run the race with endurance. No more taking my war paint off when I not at Church or when I am serving or when I am busy. When I put war paint on ... I want to go to war.
I am going to have to fight to keep hope. Hope does not happen naturally.
The annalogy from the last post ended with staring fear, pain, and whatever else this situation embodies right in the face. The question becomes -- how do I do that? How do WE do that?
I also think it takes courage to hope. How often in films have the soldiers felt defeated only to rally behind the hope of their leader? I was reminded what it means to pray with expectation. Praying with and expecting God to produce takes hope and courage. In no way do I pretend that I can have ultimate control of God, but at the same time I know that prayer makes a difference. The multidimensional character of my Father will never make complete sense to a one-dimensional being like me. I have presented for a long time that the language of creation is not sufficient to describe the Creator. Having said all of that, I do think that praying with bold expectation has its place. Imploring of God, and EXPECTING the result for which I have asked -- that is what I will be striving to do. I remember the paradoxical language that the Book of Daniel uses to describe this. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego speak to Nebuchadnezzar about being thrown into the furnace:
"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." - Daniel 3:17,18
HE CAN. HE WILL. BUT IF NOT WE STILL CLAIM HIM TO BE OUR GOD.
I ask anyone that wants to join in the battle for my brother to hope. Hope in such a way that you step out in faith and claim healing and peace and strength and childlike faith over him. Hope with such magnitude that you pray with expectation. Have a hope that produces vulnerability - ready to feel the pain as it comes to my brother. Fight the spiritual fight and feel the burden along with him.
I also ask visitors to hope in the way that they relate with him. Ask God to give you the hope to enter his room with joy. Allow the Father to give you the strength to love him well and encourage his heart. Trust God enough to be able to enjoy what is good.
No matter what the doctors tell us, this battle is far from over. God has the power to do what He wants, and I am asking God for the strength to hope and fight the hard fight even if all things tangible say not to. God has the final say. Not medicine.
Thank you to all those who have already been standing in the gap for my brother and my family.
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18
His caring bridge page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/saxoncochran
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