How to Hold Onto Hope When Everything Is Bad
Micah 7:7 - But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
The political situation in the US and throughout the world is unstable and chaotic. Understatement of the century, right there. I don’t think I need to rehash everything happening in the US and globally. I am not sure I could without writing a book-size blog post. But one question that is gnawing at me, is how should those of us who are Jesus followers react to the instability and violence that surround us? How do we be honest about the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in while holding onto a shred of hope?
First, Christians, especially those in the West, need to remember that for the majority of people throughout human history, life has often been violent, harsh, and short. It is only within the last few decades that a larger chunk of humanity has been able to experience a semblance of predictability. But we know that even though, life isn’t as bad for as many people as say 1300s England when the Black Plague decimated and wiped out half of the population, life is still difficult for a large number of people in the US and globally. It is important to remember that oppression and violence have been the daily experiences of humanity since whenever we became sentient beings.
These times are both precedented and unprecedented. Meaning they will be in the history books and, to various extents, our ancestors experienced versions of the violence and oppression we are currently undergoing. While the situations we are experiencing aren’t completely the same as those in the past, we can acknowledge that we aren’t the first to go through politically destabilizing times and we won’t be the last. Acknowledging this fact will not only remind us to keep moving forward, but we could perhaps learn from the hard-won lessons from our ancestors; lessons often learned amid untold suffering and destruction.
Second, we need to continually reevaluate our images of God. To be sure, the Biblical text, which Christians across the theological and political spectrum hold as sacred, has a variety of images and depictions of God. And some of those images are violent and oppressive. It seems as if our ancestors in the faith, just as we do now, struggle with how to depict God.
While there are beautiful verses that talk about humanity being made in God’s image, the reality is that just as often we have made God in our own image. And as complicated beings that image can be harmful. So what can we do? We need to constantly and critically re-evaluate our image of God. We need to have the courage, honesty, and self-awareness to continually question how we view God and how our ancestors in the past viewed God. We cannot be afraid to admit that they and we, often get God wrong. This humility is needed more than ever. As some use God as a justification for violence and oppression, those of us seeking to create a more just and equitable world need to make sure we aren’t also perpetrating images of the divine that cause harm.
Third- we need to reject dehumanization in all forms. This doesn’t mean we can’t be angry. This doesn’t mean we can’t express the fullness of our emotions to God. The Psalms aren’t always the most sanitized, kind verses in the Bible. But there’s a difference between expressing our anger to God and allowing that anger to turn into public displays of violence and dehumanization. Listen, I am not calling for a false unity that seeks to ignore the very real harms caused by those in power. I am simply saying that public displays of dehumanization are harmful.
I also want to acknowledge that Mainline congregations preach forgiveness without repentance, which often leaves marginalized groups vulnerable to continued exploitation. But again, protecting ourselves from harm doesn’t entail public displays of dehumanization and violence towards others. We can reject the rhetoric that is quickly turning the US into a divided country on the brink of violence and also seek to protect the most marginalized among us.
As those who follow Jesus, we must reject the temptation to dehumanize others. We must push back against our fellow followers of Jesus who claim that violence of any form is the answer. However, when doing this, Christians who hold positions of power and privilege, need to explore whether they have been responsible for endorsing violence by endorsing state policies and actions that harm the most vulnerable. That too is violence. However, too many Christians, particularly those who benefit from state violence, often remain silent.
Finally, we need to continue to make room for glimpses of joy in our life. I am not suggesting that we ignore our sadness, anger, fear or pain. However, we need to be able to find glimpses of joy and God in our daily lives. If we do not our ability to work with God to create a more just and equitable world will be limited. Find one thing a day, even if it is a small thing such as a cup of tea in the morning, petting your cat, watching your favorite comfort show, or going to the store with your family, that allows you to remain grounded in the present and that brings you a small amount of joy.
One thing that brings me joy is coloring and making junk journals. Do I have an ounce of craftiness in me? Absolutely not. My coloring looks like that of a three-year-old struggling to stay in the lines, and my junk journals consist of me putting stickers on a page. Yet these activities, bring me a measure of joy. These small acts help me feel connected to the divine and provide a much-needed respite from social media and the constant inflow of bad news. Find that one thing that brings you a measure of joy in the chaos.
The reality is that life is hard and the situation will probably deteriorate before we see improvements. As such, we must do what we can to hold onto hope and to find the strength to work with God and one another to protect the most vulnerable and marginalize and advocate for a better world.
Image: black and white newspaper clippings in the background. In the foreground a white sheet with the words: Attention How should Christians respond to the violence that surrounds us.