As a reader of fiction books, I know that when I enter into a good story a “black moment” is in my future. If you’re a fiction reader (or movie watcher), you know what I’m talking about.
It’s the moment when all hope seems lost – when the ship is sinking, when the best friend is shot, when the girl finds out a hidden something about the guy that appears to end everything. It’s the main point when a happily-ever-after is not only in jeopardy, but seems impossible.
And yet…
We keep watching or reading because we have hope that something good will come along and change the “perceived” trajectory of the story.
Why?
Because we’ve read enough fiction or watched enough movies to know that’s how it works. We (usually) don’t turn off the movie or throw down the book at the ¾ place in the story because we have HOPE for a happy (or acceptable) ending since we have a history with similar books/movies.
Hope is a powerful thing.
Though the Bible isn’t fictional, it is full of those “black moments”, times when it looks like all hope is gone. From the garden of Eden to the apostles, over and over again we see impossible feats with giants, and armies, and seas, and…even twisted human hearts, and yet…
Impossible things happen to ensure that the Author of the Great Story is very much at work in the ultimate rescue plan for his beloved people. Even the blackest moment in the Bible, Jesus’s death, twists the “impossible” on its head to prove all the more that hope in Christ does not fail.
We keep watching those movies and reading those books, even when we get to the black moment, because we have a history of knowing that on the other side of the black moment is the happily-ever-after. God’s track record is even better. He’s reached into “black moments” throughout history and brought about his beautiful plan, over and over and over again.
Why can we start a new year with hope? Joy? Certainty in a happily-ever-after?
Because God’s track record has proven itself true. God has proven himself faithful.
Even when we were DEAD in our sins, God made us alive in Christ! God rescued us from the ultimate black moment for a future of forever happily-ever-afters!
Hope? Oh yeah, we have hope! For 2022 and beyond.
- (Ephesians 2:4, Title is from a phrase of the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness)
This is so beautiful! I love that God works everything out for the good of them who believe in Him and are called His. I’ll keep reading until the very end—it only gets better! Thank you for the encouragement today! Hugs to you!
Such beautiful truths & words! Thank you friend for this encouragement! What a gracious Heavenly Father we have & a wonderful Savior- our hope is found in nothing less , than Jesus’ blood & righteousness! Love & blessings to you!
Your comments are Spot ON Pepper! I agree with you. Love your books also. Keep them coming.
Amen!!
Loved this article .❤
We all have ,black moments, but there is always ,hope.
Have you ever thought about young children’s book’s with this very though for the stories ??
Peppy, this is SO helpful, especially for a 2022 following a 2021. And I have always loved that hymn.