trouble
Trouble can be a way to hope. The path to hope for you might be through a season of trouble. And trouble can strike close to home. Sometimes trouble literally strikes your home.
Easter night, of all nights, storms hit Chattanooga. A tornado went by about a mile from our house literally leveling homes and businesses. Aerially, some neighborhoods literally look like they were just smeared. Some did lose all, even their lives, from this storm system. Even in the literal disaster and literal darkness, hope emerges. Miraculous stories are also coming out already. Like a family huddled in a bathroom emerging only to see that that bathroom was literally the only thing remaining standing of their home.
Stories of life emerging from what appeared to be the end. Maybe it’s kind of Easter-like after all.
And a little solidarity brought about by last night’s tornado is just what our socially distanced pandemic selves needed. I hugged someone for the first time in weeks as she fell into my arms after the stress of the tornado and being overwhelmed at the goodness of the Lord to spare her family.
Also on Easter day of all days, I started reading a book called Hosea in the Bible with a bunch of people from my church. It’s like a giant book club and it’s been so signifiant to share that space together. But Hosea doesn’t seem like a very “Easter” thing to read at first glance. I mean, the Gospels or maybe some of the Old Testament that speaks of what Christ would do… But Hosea? Yes, Hosea.
A story of extravagant, unrelenting love faithfully pursuing us… even through the darkest times. Even if the darkness is our own doing!
In Hosea 2:15 the Lord says He “will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” That word Achor means “trouble.” The place of trouble is a way to hope. And that particular word for hope can also mean expectation… or cord or rope because it comes from a word that means twisting… or twirling, dancing or writhing. The writhing from pain can turn into a dance as we allow the trouble to become a path to hope. Even if the trouble we experience is because of our own choices.
And even if the trouble is entirely not our own doing, this thought of trouble being a way to hope holds true! Romans 5:3-5 speaks of sufferings leading to perseverance which brings character which births hope. And a hope that does not put us to shame. A hope we do not have to be scared to trust, to believe in.
The moment the worst part of the storm passed, sirens wailed, search lights scanned the streets and yards for those needing help, chainsaws started up and generators hummed. And neighbors started helping each other. Family started trying to get to family who were stuck to bring them home. After spending Easter apart because of social distancing, they were picking them up and giving them shelter.
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). That’s that same word for hope. That hope is the same available for all who are in trouble. That hope is the same for all needing some life to emerge from what appears to be the end.