What Happened to the Audacity of Hope?

David's beautiful Psalm 23 is one of the Bible's most well-known passages to believers and non-believers alike. Often read at funerals, it is perceived as a universal message of comfort and hope for all people. But the hope it promises can only by possessed by those who know God as their Shepherd.

In 2006, Barak Obama wrote “The Audacity of Hope,” in which he challenged Americans to have hope in a time of difficulty and uncertainty. Borrowing from the apostle Paul and Franklin D. Roosevelt, he said “In the end it [hope] is God’s greatest gift to us: believing in things not seen, and believing there are better days ahead.” Of a certainty, ‘then’ Senator Obama could not have known how much difficulty and uncertainly lay ahead for the nation over which he would preside. Whatever your politics, you have to admit that his presidency has not been in the best of times. And now, unsurprisingly, he no longer speaks of hope. Without a revelation of God as His Shepherd, how could he?

The metaphor may not be entirely appropriate, but King David’s path to the throne was rocky—his reign full of ups and downs. David came on the scene at a difficult time: a protracted war with the Philistines, political division, and over-taxation had weakened the new-found kingdom. Still David kept entrusting his life to God. For David, there was no question about where to put his trust. “But as for me, I will hope continually” (Psalm 71:14). David knew there was only one place to find hope. What audacity! We should all be so bold.

God Knows Your Name

Here’s an astonishing fact for a mundane Monday morning: a new study by scientists suggests that instead of 10 trillion stars in the universe (as formerly calculated), there are more than 300 sextillion stars—a ‘3’ followed by ‘23’ zeroes. And here’s an amazing thought: God knows the number of stars and calls them all by name (Ps. 147:4). Daunting, isn’t it!

Now let’s bring this down to earth and make it more personal. Jesus says our Heavenly Father knows how many hairs are on your head (Luke 12:7). How personal is that! But of course what Jesus is really telling us is that God knows us—intimately. Moreover, He thinks about us. The Psalmist says: “Many, O Lord my God, are…Your thoughts toward us… If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count” (40:5) (Probably more than 300 sextillion?)

On a cold, rainy, dreary Monday morning like this one, the humdrum of life on earth threatens to move God to the margins of our minds. So think about this: the God who knows the numbers and names of the stars, knows you, and certainly knows your name. And is thinking about you right now. (1 Chron. 28:9)

The Highway to Heaven Passes through the Valley of Tears

While living for two years in the Muslim world, I was impressed by their devotion, albeit misdirected, to the daily prayer ritual. How many Christians would cease all activity five times a day to kneel and pray! More to the point of this teaching, a devout Muslim also demonstrates his faith by a pilgrimage to Mecca (called Hajj). Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it is obliged to do a Hajj at least once in his lifetime.

The concept of pilgrimage is not unique to Islam. The Hebrews journeyed once a year to their city of worship—Jerusalem: a difficult trip for many through valley and desert. The Psalmist writes: “Blessed are those who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Tears, they make it a place of blessing…they go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion.” (Ps. 84:5-7)

Israel’s first such pilgrimage to “Zion” occurred after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Their 40-year journey was their ‘valley of tears,’ as they grumbled and complained—some even wanting to return to Egypt. But before we judge them too harshly, we should ask ourselves this question: How quickly do we complain when God takes us through a valley of tears?

Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan teaches us an important lesson: the pilgrimage to God’s Promised Land passes through a wilderness. After you hear God’s voice promising to bless you, don’t be surprised to find that what happens next is the opposite of what you expected. It was no mistake: the Bible says God “led” them into the Wilderness.

Don’t be surprised by the valleys you will encounter on your “highway to Heaven.” Like the faithful Hebrews, set your heart to endure the journey. God promises you won’t faint along the way, but will actually find the pilgrimage a blessing as you go from “strength to strength.”