“We start out in life with so many varied paths and exciting possibilities in front of us: places to go, people to meet, pleasures to experience. It is so hope filled and hopeful.” And this is exactly how things should be, according to David Murray in The Happy Christian, God has given us a wonderful world of things to explore and enjoy. But Murray notes that as we get older, “our minds tend to start looking backward rather than forward.”
While in some ways looking toward the past can be good, it “can also cause deep pain and even despair as we ponder bad decisions, bad choices, and bad relationships. And we don’t need to be old to be tortured by our past.” In this chapter, Murray argues that we need to learn how to look at the past in healthy ways and also how to benefit from a hopeful look toward days yet to come.
Healthy & Unhealthy Uses of the Past
Murray suggests that there are several ways that we can benefit from looking at the past. First, we can consider the biblical history and see in it the very foundation of our faith, including God’s great works of creation and redemption. Or consider church history and see in it God’s great faithfulness in blessing the church and preserving it against all odds. Even secular world history reveals God’s great providential rule over kings, nations, people, and events in nature. And if we consider our personal history, we can see how God has worked to bring us to salvation from a life of sin and foolish self-reliance.
Looking at history has many benefits, but it also includes some pitfalls. We may be tempted to focus on past sins and either despair of being truly forgiven or even be tempted to go back. Or we may think only of our failures and decisions we have made which have turned out poorly. Sometimes we become so focused on past losses and our bereavement that we lose sight of all the good things God has given us to enjoy today. Still others might become nostalgic about the past and romanticize “the good old days” of some imaginary golden age, either in our own lives, in the church, or in our nation.
FUTURE > PAST = POSITIVE+
The key to avoiding the unhealthy use of the past is not to replace bad nostalgia with good nostalgia. Instead, we must learn to look to the future in hope. Pastor Murray gives this definition of Christian hope: “a realistic expectation of and joyful longing for future good and glory based on the reliable Word of God.” Our future hope is not pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by, nor is it just wishful thinking, devoid of any justification. It is based firmly on the rock-solid truth of God’s word. Even in a world with such darkness as ours, Christians ought to have real, joyful hope that enables us to endure and even to thrive.
The Development of Christian Hope
After discussing the numerous benefits of hope, Murray offers several steps which will help us develop and build Christian hope so that we may become more future oriented and move forward in faith.
First, develop self-awareness. That is, you need to take a critical look at your thoughts and conversations in order to understand how much you tend to look backward rather than forward. For some this will be a greater challenge than for others, but we can probably all benefit from it.
Second, orient your mind into a more forward-facing posture. Murray suggests that you challenge yourself by quoting Psalm 42:11, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
Third, fill your mind with the promises of God. The Scripture is full of promises which God gave to his people in all different circumstances and times. Not all of them are for you or for me, but we can use the past fulfillment of promises to assure ourselves of God’s faithfulness to keep his promises in the future.
Fourth, practice what Murray calls “baby-step hope,” that is, take small steps of hope and optimism rather than trying to make giant leaps. Focusing on having a successful day at work is more manageable than trying to keep your mind and heart focused on enjoying the future glories of heaven. Small steps of hope will encourage you to embrace your God-given talents and resources as you tackle the challenges of life.
Fifth, you should surround yourself with hopeful people. Attitudes are contagious, but that goes just as much for hopeful ones as for despairing and bitter ones. If you’re struggling to have hope, maybe you need to find some new friends!
Sixth, remember to balance your news diet. Since so much of our modern media is focused on the apparent decline of our world and of Christianity, too much of a diet of the news will inevitably lead to despair rather than hope. Be careful what you take it!
Finally, Murray says that we need to focus on the huge benefits of hope. He notes that “Numerous studies have shown that hope improves decision making, motivation, academic outcomes, relationships, and goal setting.” In some ways, hope becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we embrace hope based on the good promises of God, we will enjoy our present while eagerly moving toward the future, confident that whatever happens the Lord will keep his word. No matter what kind of past you have, if you are in Christ, your future is bright with heavenly blessings and grace.