When we make our thankfulness physical, we are expressing our hope that God and God’s work is not yet done on this earth. Making hope physical is not the same as hoping in physical things but proclaiming the goodness and glory of God this very moment in word and deed.
I used to think the phrase “chronic pain” pertained primarily to physical symptoms — aching joints, relentless fatigue, involuntary movements, difficulty with everyday tasks, and more. Yet in the three years since my pain journey began, I’ve found myself riding an emotional roller coaster I didn’t see coming.
Hope is a gift from God (and what a precious gift it is!), but the biggest gift of all will be the day when we no longer need for it. We will leave hope behind and move forward into eternity to recognize the glorious fulfillment of all our earthly hopes — and no suffering here can compare to the glory that will be revealed in us.
The mystery of God is that I can still have the best version of me in the midst of this suffering. my hope is about what God is able to do, and that’s limitless.
