Hope and Hard Work

…no, that isn’t the title of Justin Bieber’s new album (that’s Believe and it did drop today—good luck, JB).

A couple of weeks ago my friend said these exact words to me:

“You have to have hope, and you have to work hard”

I wrote them down shortly after that because, in that moment, I felt the profoundness of such a simple statement—even though at the time I’m not sure that I was thinking clearly enough to really let it sink in.

Completely exclusive of this event, I have been stuck in 1 Peter.  I keep reading the entire book over and over again.  As I was reading last night I realized that two of the most prevalent themes in 1 Peter are just that:

Hope and hard work.

“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1:3)

“Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1:13)

“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (3:15)

And…

“…so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor.” (1:7)

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” (1:22)

“Abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (2:11)

It’s hard for me to know how much I should surrender control to God and how much I should exercise the free will that He’s given me.  Really, I need both.

Sometimes I need to get on my face when I want to get on the phone.  I need to get in the Word when I want to get in my bed.  I need to stand firm and fight when I want to wallow in weakness.

But none of those things mean anything without a Holy expectation.  Without the knowledge that I am not meant for the brokenness of this world, I am not who I once was, and life will proceed from death.

And sometimes the Lord lets us sweat.  He lets us feel, and see, and taste the salt of our hard work.  Tonight was one of those nights for me.  God lead me in to a place I thought I might never go, and there He showed me the ways that He has matured me and refined me through difficult situations; he wrote redemption in a conversation would have never existed four years ago.

Let hard work be my habit, and Hope be my guide.