Wisdom to Hope

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1 Does not wisdom call and understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: 4 "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all who live. 5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. 6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right." (Proverbs 8:1-6)

The world can feel like a scary place. Individuals are overwhelmed by mental, emotional, and financial stress. Communities struggle in the tension between serving those who are powerless and yielding to the voices of those with power. Governments clash over competing interests. All of this explodes in social unrest,

increased violence, and war.

Where is God in all of this? In Proverbs 8 wisdom is depicted as a feminine voice, present since the dawn of time, crying out for all to hear. Yet, since humanity's birth, we've been resistant to that voice - either not hearing or ignoring Wisdom's call. Often the voices of the world seem louder, or offer an immediate remedy. The voice of self-sufficiency can seem more practical than communal engagement. The call to self-fulfillment might seem more attainable than justice. We turn inward when the world feels out of control. And still, Wisdom calls - calls us together, calls us to hope, calls us to look outside of ourselves and beyond our limitations.

If our hope was found in financial stability, political influence, or the desire and ability of earthly power-brokers to care and protect, we would have no reason to hope. Thankfully our hope is in the One who laid down all prestige to lift us out of the grip of death. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can walk in wisdom and do the hard things - loving God by loving the hate and the hurt out of this world.

1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been

given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)