Christian Hope and Action

The writer of Psalm 42 cries out, “As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.”  He used to be involved in the procession to the house of God but now he is now stricken by illness. He is even taunted by people who say to him continually, “Where is your God?”  It seems that God has forgotten him. He goes on to ask, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?” He hopes for God and wants God to help him. When difficulties surround us do we turn to God and what do we hope for? What action should we take as well?

The psalmist is suffering some kind of illness which others regard as an indication that God has either sent it or else has forsaken the person. Nevertheless, the psalmist cries out to God hoping for God’s healing and restoration. God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are known to him. He hopes that he shall again be able to praise God for what God has done for him.

Many people cry out to God when faced with significant problems or difficult circumstances. There is nothing wrong with doing so. God as revealed by Jesus is a God who cares deeply for us especially when people are suffering. It is best done out of a relationship with God that knows God’s love and faithfulness.

It has often been the case that the hope held out by Christian preachers and teachers has been for life beyond death. In heaven suffering will come to an end. There will be no more death. Mourning, crying and pain will be no more as John in Revelation 21 presents it.

While life beyond death is an important component of Christian belief, especially in the light of Jesus’ resurrection, it is not the predominant message of Jesus. Jesus spoke of the coming kingdom of God as both already and not yet. He said little about the ‘not yet’ other than to affirm resurrection to eternal life with God. His main focus was on the ‘already’, the breaking in of God’s rule into the present.

One of the main sections of the Lord’s prayer is, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” Here there is affirmation of the kingdom of heaven but the emphasis is on God’s realm coming on earth and God’s will being carried out in the present.

This says to me that while we are to affirm life beyond death and the fullness of God’s kingdom after this life, we are to live by God’s will now. We are to endeavour to make this life more like the final commonwealth of God when suffering will be no more.

God is a God who as Creator cares for all God’s creation but has also given creation and especially humans ‘relative freedom.’ God does not intervene in every situation. If God did so then freedom and responsibility would not be a reality. Freedom is respected by God which means that God places some limits on God’s self in relation to the world and especially humans. Humans can and often do go against what God wants. Fortunately, God is also a loving and merciful God who readily forgives as Jesus indicated. God’s Spirit is at work in the world.

God does not send affliction on people or abandon them when they suffer. People may feel alone in their suffering but God’s Spirit is present and God does want people to know love and healing. Healing does not always happen but that does not mean God does not still care. We live in a world in which there is suffering from sickness, accident and particularly from the actions of others.  The latter is in fact usually the worst kind of suffering especially when it has been deliberately inflicted.

At present we see this in the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. The protests are understandable given the death, injury, destruction and treatment of the Palestinian people. Even humanitarian aid has been restricted and aid workers killed. While Israel claims to be acting to protect itself and root out Hamas fighters, the extent of civilian suffering and displacement is extreme.

The situation in Ukraine is one in which an unnecessary war was initiated by Russia claiming land for itself. The war has been going on for over two years and there is no end in sight as both sides now just hold their positions for the most part. Many people have been killed though nothing like the number of civilians in Gaza. Many people have been displaced and Russia seems to be holding on to the view that if they just keep sending more soldiers that eventually they will win.

God has not intervened. God is no doubt grieved by all the suffering. The hope is in those who are working for cease-fires and an end to the conflicts. Some compromises will no doubt be required. Humans do have the responsibility more than any other creature for the well-being not only of human societies but also for the environment itself.

If we as Christians are to play a role, it is in praying for situations such as these, caring about the suffering of the people, and doing what we can to call for an end to the violence. We want to see justice for all people, not revenge. We desire lasting peace that can only come from both sides in conflict respecting one another and being willing to live together in the future in peace. There are examples of Palestinians and Israelis working together for peace. They can be affirmed, not those who continue to hate and mistreat those regarded as enemies.

We hope against hope for an end to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and pray that God’s Spirit will be listened to in order for peace to be restored and a better future come about for all involved.