Jon recently quoted me in his post. It may be the quote for which I'll be remembered most, and I'd be good with that. It's my own home-spun definition of hope: everything may not be okay, but that's okay, because everything's gonna be okay. I know it doesn't sound profound, but it's not just a power-of-positive-thinking mantra to make us all feel better when we're struggling. It is rooted in profound truth. I plan to work through the three parts of my definition in my next three posts (today, Friday, and next Wednesday).

That's probably an understatement right now, right? Some folks are stressed out about the Covid-19 virus itself, and some are anxious about responses to the pandemic by the government. Others seem to be angry about everything.

Everything's not okay, but perspective is important. Everything's not supposed to be okay right now. This side of eternity (before Jesus returns to earth to establish his Kingdom), sin and its awful effects run rampant. Evolutionary perspectives have fooled many into thinking we're at least on our way to okay, but it's not true. It never has been. But it's not only those who consciously reject the Bible's teachings who fall prey to wrong expectations. It's also those who unconsciously twist the Bible's teachings: "If I trust God, everything's should be okay right now." Where do you find that in the Bible? Jesus said this to his followers: "In the world you will have tribulation" (I'm not giving you the rest of the verse yet. I will, the Lord-willing, in coming posts, i.e. "Everything's gonna be okay."). The Bible also says, "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." Peter told Christ-followers, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." It seems pretty clear.

I'm reading Paul Miller's book "J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life" (and I highly recommend it.). He makes the point that when we come to really understand and believe that everything's not supposed to be okay (my words, not his), then:

I'm not sure if he's talking about clinical depression or more like discouragement. I won't put words in his mouth or take them out, but I will say that the overall point is really good.

Before I move on to application, can I encourage caution about the hysteria that thinks/says no one in the world has ever had it as bad as we have it right now? That, I fear, is born of arrogance (or C.S. Lewis's "chronological snobbery") and ignorance of history. In fact, a point of history from which I've profited is the Spanish flu outbreak about a hundred years ago in our country. In other words, "everything is not okay" is not new or unique to us.

Three responses to "everything may not be okay" come to my mind:

God has each of us individually in this season for a good reason. He is at work in your life. I may not know what he's doing specifically in you, but I am trying to find out what he's doing in me. Saying "everything is not okay" means "I am not okay." I do not have it all together. I am a sinner in need of sanctification. I am a disciple in need of learning and training. God uses not-okay times to work on not-okay people. Humble yourself. Submit to his purpose and his methods for attaining his purpose in you.

Some of us feel pressure to put on a happy face, even in our not-okay times. We don't want to be a poor testimony to those outside of Christ, and we don't want to be discouraging to those in Christ. What the world needs to see is not a Christian who never struggles, but a Christian who responds to struggles and suffering in a God-honoring way. We do not have to be dishonest before outsiders. Nor do we need to be dishonest before brothers and sisters. We may think we're being loving by not burdening them with our problems, but it's really a lose-lose practice. You're depriving yourself of the help you need in your trial: prayers, words of encouragement, spiritual gifts you don't have but others in your church family do, and probably many, many other helps. Also you're depriving your church family of the chance to weep with you when you weep, to use their spiritual gifts, to serve and love you as God intended, to rejoice with you when you rejoice, to praise God for answered prayer in your trial, to have their faith strengthened, to praise God for his faithfulness, to learn to honestly confess their not-okay times to the church, and probably many, many more chances as well.

(I can't believe I couldn't come up with another H-word, and neither can some of you)

"Everything's not okay" applies not only to me, but also to others. I need to have eyes open and alert to others who are not okay. One of the stated reasons for not being honest about struggles is fear of judgment. We need to be sure that this is an unfounded reason, that we are compassionate and serving, and that we are truly eager to respond to others' suffering in the ways I listed above.

Philippians 2 says one should "look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." We were not designed for constant self-examination. In fact, that can actually become part of our being not-okay. It's in losing our lives in service to God for others that we find life and joy. I'm trying to be careful as I say so because for some who are struggling, this can actually become a guilt-induced spiral down. That's not what I intend. I want you to see light at the end of the tunnel, to have hope. Please remember,

Everything may not be okay, but that's okay, because everything's gonna be okay. More on that to come!