If you’re desperately longing for a glimpse of hope, research the origin stories of your favorite hymns. You’ll find shipwrecks, knights in shining armor, darkrooms, and imprisoned rabbis. But most importantly, you’ll find a God who gives strength in sorrow. You’ll find a God who speaks in suffering.
Paul writes,
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
As I embark on my 20s, I’m continually told it will be the most defining decade of my life. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxiously anticipating what this chapter holds, but I’ve also noticed that no matter what stage of life someone is in, they’re usually waiting for what comes next.
Perhaps it’s our human nature to always look for something better, steadier, easier – a shift in our career, an answer to an unrequited prayer, a broken relationship to finally mend, or even feelings of loneliness to disperse.
When we live for a future in this world only, we miss out on the abundant blessings of the present. When we set our eyes on the things that are above (Colossians 3:2), living not for the fleeting pleasures of this world but for eternity, our perspective changes. We are filled with hope, purpose, and gratitude for whatever shape our story takes.
Blessed Assurance
If we were to meet for coffee and I were to ask you to tell your story, where would you begin? With your upbringing? Your marital status? Your occupation? If I were then to ask you where your story is headed, how would you respond? What dreams, hopes, and goals have yet to be fulfilled? What is your ideal ending?
On a recent Sunday morning, as my church’s worship minister led the congregation in singing "Blessed Assurance," written by Methodist hymn writer Fanny Crosby, I was struck by the firm declaration found in the chorus.
"This is my story \ this is my song \ praising my Savior all the day long."
The words convicted my striving heart about how often I try to write my own story instead of letting the mighty, faithful, caring God who created me lead me beside still waters. How often do I exchange the truth about God and who He has created me to be for the world’s fleeting acceptance? How often do I ignore where God is leading me because I hastily assume it won’t be enough?
Through the words of a woman who lived 150 years ago, God lovingly reminded me of this blessed assurance. Our stories are perfectly complete if all they entail is worshiping at the feet of Jesus.
Culture entices us to make much of ourselves by seeking earthly success. It encourages us to embellish our stories with promotions, pleasure, and material riches. Even within the church, we feel pressure to perfect our stories with tales of life-threatening sacrifice, how we led thousands to conversion, and daring quests into the murky waters of the secular sphere.
For some of us, that may be our story. God certainly uses people as vessels for His miraculous power, saving them from the mouths of lions (Daniel), using them to part seas (Moses), or sending heavenly fire as evidence of His existence (Elijah).
We must realize our daily faithfulness and worship are just as miraculous as the stories of great faith preserved in the Bible. Our stories are miraculous because they point back to a God who loves us despite our sin, a God who sent His only Son to die a lonely, excruciating death so we could live with Him forever. That story, the story of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, is what the world needs to hear over any earthly achievement we could ever possibly attain.
Eternal hope
Fanny Crosby wrote over 8,000 hymns, including "Blessed Assurance." She became blind shortly after birth, experienced a tumultuous marriage, and underwent the hardships of poverty.
From an earthly perspective, it would seem illogical for anyone in her circumstances to declare “This is my story” with fervor and rejoicing. But with the eternal hope of Christ, Crosby’s life was radically transformed into a story with immeasurable eternal impact. Her joy and faithfulness through trials encourage countless souls and lead them to the Savior who eagerly welcomes them with open arms.
Crosby once said, “If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind … for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Savior.”
That’s how God worked beautifully to write Crosby’s story. How is He currently working to write yours?
