Hope Complains

Hope can experience ups and downs because of life if Hope is a noun. Yet, Job experiences a lot of ups and downs because his hope begins to wane when he makes the following statement:

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

Job 24:1

In other words, Job's questions are not unique to him. They have plagued humanity for centuries and continue to do so. If God is all-powerful and consistently righteous, how can He allow evil to flourish? Why does evil prosper while the righteous suffer? Job’s struggle is our struggle; we often experience life through struggles. For instance, many have experienced the death of a loved one due to the carelessness of another person, yet the perpetrator goes unpunished. These struggles often leave us with a feeling of hopelessness and despair. Then, we ask the ultimate question of how we can trust in a God who allows so much suffering to happen. I believe Hosea's prophecy gives us insight into why this is so.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man….

Hosea 11:9

Even though Ephraim deserved annihilation, God reminded Hosea that I am God, not man. Remember, God created humanity for His glory instead of humanity's glory. Trust and faith are the primary requirements of humanity toward God. Through trust and faith, we realize that God is God who lacks any characteristics of man. God is eternal; therefore, a finite man will never experience true defeat if he places trust and faith in an infinite God.

As with Job, we can confidently affirm that even when Hope complains, the hidden things belong to God Almighty, where our trust and faith firmly reside.