Half-Full, Half-Empty Paradox

The half full-half empty glass of water paradox has been used forever to describe polar opposite perspectives people have about situations and life in general. I think many of us have labeled ourselves as one or the other. Because I'm a realist, my tendency is to see myself as a "glass half empty" kind of person, while my husband, who's an eternal optimist, views most situations as hopeful and see the glass half full most of the time. 

I’ve fought hard to defend my perspective, arguing that without realists the world would soon end in chaos with people building castles in the sky. My husband counters that visionaries and dreamers keep hope alive and without them it would perish. As I was thinking about this concept recently, it occurred to me that both perspectives are essential for maintaining a biblical worldview which always includes suffering as well as redemption. Bringing them together challenges people like my husband and me who want to polarize positions and tout our view as superior.

Jesus didn’t seem to think that there had to be a choice between the two perspectives, but encouraged the disciples and believers to embrace both outlooks, with a foundational commitment to the fact that the half full glass will eventually, at the consummation, give way to a perpetual overflowing. He said, “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). Paul, in recounting his sufferings, made sure to include both the half empty and half full portion of the picture when he said, “We are pressed on every side, but we still have room to move. We are often in much trouble, but we never give up. People make it hard for us, but we are not left alone. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Death is working in us because we work for the Lord, but His life is working in you” (2 Cor. 4:8-12).

Both spoke realistically of suffering and evil, but at the same time they saw resurrection hope as the antidote to discouragement or despair. It never honors God for us to deny reality that there’s a spiritual war raging. Jesus warned Peter that the enemy wanted to sift him like wheat (Lk. 22:31). He knows that each of us faces similar trials and temptations from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and he warns us in His Word that unless we face them, suit up in our spiritual armor, and pray for His sustaining power we’ll become casualties on the battle lines (Eph 6:10-18). 

Because He offered up His own life to secure our triumph over sin and death, it’s clear He doesn’t want us to allow an attitude of defeat to rule our lives. Instead, He yearns for us to have eyes to see and ears to hear His call to acknowledge that the battle is definitely raging and the enemy who tried to destroy Him at the cross remains our enemy (1 Pet. 5:8). But He doesn’t want our focus to stop there – at what could look like a half empty glass. He summons us to fix our eyes on the greater reality of the cross, the resurrection, and the promises of Revelation so that we’re able to determine with fortitude that even though we’ll experience immense trouble and attacks from the enemy “greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4). He has already overcome the world, and as His daughters and sons we’re victorious with Him. By faith we can say in every situation, no matter how distressing it is, that we are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37). We have His promise that He’s with us to the very end (Mt. 28:20), His Spirit’s power is within us giving us strength (Eph. 1:19-20), and He always leads us in triumph (Col. 3:15). 

Yes, in some ways it appears the glass is half empty: many suffer from sickness and disease, marriages struggle, jobs are lost, people we trust let us down. But for the Christian the story never ends on the sorrowful note. Hope remains and healing will come both in this age and in the age to come (Mk. 10:29-30). God is in the process of making all things new. And even in the middle of the worst life experiences, He’s reminding us, whispering to our hearts, that He’s with us in our pain and suffering. The sun will shine again, healing will come, and hope can never be extinguished. We are more than over-comers through Him!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39).

When What's Good Seems Bad

God promises that he is giver of "every good and perfect gift" and that he "withholds no good thing" from us (Jas 1:17; Ps 84:11). We see this aspect of his character and nature from the first verses in Genesis where he speaks the earth and all that's in it into being, declaring that it is "good" and that his creation of humanity is "very good." When he encounters Moses at the burning bush, he uses "good" again to describe the land he is giving to them -- "a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Ex 3:7). But after spying out the land and looking over the people, the cities and their power, ten out of the twelve men saw what God defined "good" as "bad", and they wanted nothing to do with his plan. As I was reading this passage today and thinking about how their response differed from Caleb and Joshua's, I saw how faith in God and his promises not only brings assurance that he is working everything together for our good (Rom 8:28), but gives us clear vision to see things as they truly are and not just how they appear on the surface.

All twelve of the men came back in agreement that the land "does flow with milk and honey" and they showed the large cluster of grapes, along with the figs and pomegranates, to prove it (13:28). They all saw this aspect of the land's goodness -- its fertile soil and ability to produce abundant fruit. But the powerful people, the fortified cities and the giants overshadowed this blessing so much that it moved them to speculate about their future defeat. Their lack of faith, or rather their faith in man over God, caused them to shrink back in fear instead of trusting in God's demonstrated power and greatness. He had already proven himself to be mighty and faithful in rescuing them from the Egyptians, miraculously parting the Red Sea and then providing for them all that they needed. And he had given Moses his Word that he would go before them and fight for them. But this was not enough for them to trust him.

As they rejected him and looked instead through the lens of unbelief and fear of man their situation was distorted to such a great degree that they became terrified, while the other two men were confident and at peace. Without God in the equation as the one who was mightier than the armies of the world, the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites appeared stronger and their land looked like one that "devours those living in it" (32). The people who were objectively tall people became in their imaginations so huge that they felt "like grasshoppers" compared to them (33).  Without trust in the Lord and his promises, this felt like a bad and utterly impossible situation that was not worth their risk, even though it meant direct defiance of God's commands.

While Israel's ensuing wilderness wanderings clearly show how unbelief and the fear of man can distort reality, we see this same struggle throughout Scripture as many refuse to believe God and reject what he says is good. And we, unfortunately see this in our own lives as well. Last week, we were talking with friends about what it means to walk closely with the Lord and to experience persecution for the sake of the Gospel. My husband and I have also been watching documentaries of the persecuted church in the Middle East and China, reading stories about Christians who are suffering unjust imprisonment and even death, and most recently listening to the account of the Canadian pastor who was persecuted for opening his church during the pandemic and is now in solitary confinement and in chains. 

As I was reading these stories of persecution and recalling our conversation, I was tempted to see them only as "bad", wondering how anyone could endure this. I was also tempted to seek out a safe and comfortable life instead of the one Christ has called me to live. In praying this morning, the Lord showed me that I was being tempted to think with the same mindset as the Israelites, which elevated safety and fear of man over honoring God. To yield to this mindset would involve rejection of his Word, which speaks about persecution as a necessary aspect of the Christian life. I was reminded of many passages that call persecution and insult for the sake of the Gospel "good", since it is evidence of a life bearing fruit for God's glory (Jn 15:18-25). I also remembered Jesus' promise that we would not only experience great opposition from the world to the Gospel but that it would even come from our family and the religious community, "You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved" (Matt 10:22). He warned that some would be so deceived by their self-righteousness that they would think they were doing God a favor by forcing them out of the synagogue and killing them (Jn 16:2). 

Even though these examples from the book of Numbers, the Gospels, and  my own experience, seemed far apart in their relevance, I began to notice the common thread of unbelief and fear of man and its similar implications. Like the Pharisees, the Israelites denied the goodness of God and refused to enter his rest of trust, approaching him and life through the lens of what they could see rather than the lens of faith.  Their decision to call what's good bad and what's bad good cost them God's future blessings, and brought suffering on the believing community.  The unbelieving Israelites lost their lives, and all who agreed with them were forbidden from entering the promised land which meant the whole group had to remain in the wilderness for 40 years. The unbelieving Pharisees came under God's judgment, not only for their own sins, but also for those of their fathers who were also instrumental in killing the prophets (Lk 11:50; Acts 7:52). And if I chose to live in unbelief regarding God's declared goodness of suffering for righteousness sake, I would forfeit many blessings and risk that my actual declared faith in Christ was counterfeit (Rev 21:8; Lk 9:26; Lk 12:5).

God is encouraging me today to come to him and remain in his rest of faith -- actively listening to, trusting and obeying in the Spirit's power what he says is good and right and rejecting the temptation to call good bad and bad good Cor 10:13). Whether he is calling me to take a step of faith one day to serve in a country that looks like a land of giants or to experience unjust suffering and persecution right where I am, I can do both in confident trust that behind the veil of what looks "bad" is always the "good" and perfect gift from Abba -- just as he promised. 

Freedom from Bitterness

Bitterness has a way of wrapping its long arms around us and literally squeezing the life out of our souls -- if we let it. Anything from a snide comment to a broken promise can spark anger or hurt in our lives, which if left unchecked quickly morphs into bitterness. It’s deadly, and it spreads. Our anger spews out into the lives of those around us and like a wildfire consumes everything in its path (Heb. 12:15).

I remember hearing the quote “hurting people hurt people” when I was younger. I halfway believed it, but more than anything thought it was a weak attempt to explain away cruel behavior.  The longer I live and the more I experience the pain of bitterness, the more I realize how true the statement is. We’re all hurting to some degree, but those who aren’t casting their burdens on the Lord and receiving his healing grace and mercy are the ones consumed by and defiling others with their anger.

     

I went through a period of about five months when we first arrived in Korea when I was so angry at God for bringing me here I could barely breathe. My anger was the first emotion I felt in the morning and at night, and the feeling that ran through my veins throughout the day. With bitterness lurking inside, a small inconvenience could summon me to a point of rage. Life was miserable for me and, as a result, unbearable for my family and others who had had to be around me. I jumped on offenses, quickly misjudged motives, and thought the worst of many situations. My biblical worldview with God at the center had shifted, and my own right to happiness and comfort became my central focus. Because I believed I’d been dealt the wrong set of cards, I excused my anger, allowed it to stay, and began a bitter journey that left many casualties, including my own heart.

     

Refusing to repent and forgive is more dangerous than our human minds can grasp. That’s why God continually warns us about its consequences (Eph 4:31-32, Col 3:8, 2 Tim 2:24, Jas 1:19-20). We read about the anger of Cain, Esau, Saul and Samson, to name a few, and we watch with trepidation as it destroys lives and kingdoms. Each day the news is filled with stories of anger out of control, and we’re often shocked, even stunned, at what people are capable of doing. But rarely do we make the connection between the evil action and the seemingly incidental root of bitterness that began as a small seed of anger. We tend to think it's our right to nurse a grudge, but later discover that the anger has become lethal.
     

God gives us some specific ways to handle hurt and anger rather than stuffing it and letting bitterness consume us.

      

Put on the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-18). We’re to meditate on his Word daily and know who we are in Christ so that "when the day of evil comes we can take our stand." Offenses and difficulties will (not may) happen, and we’re to be prepared for them, not in paranoia, but in realistic anticipation that we may well get hurt. When we stand in our gifted identity in Christ we are not easily knocked down. We put on each piece of God's armor by declaring in faith that we trust in God's perfect provision for our walk of faith to live in his truth, righteousness, peace, faithfulness, hope, and powerful spoken word as we pray continually. This enables us to go into the day in a position of submission with the supreme desire and commitment to trust him. He empowers us to walk in his Spirit's power and not our own so that when the hour of trouble comes we can remain standing...and standing firm with our feet solidly planted on the Rock (Eph. 6:11).

Be still and know that he is God (Ps 46:10). This literally means to relax and know that he’s God. When we encounter hardships, persecution and suffering we need to remind ourselves that God is on his throne and for whatever divine reason he has allowed our trial (Ps 103:19). Whining and complaining won’t make it go away. But remembering God’s sovereignty, his goodness and his commitment to empower and uphold us, enables us to walk by faith and respond according to his perfect, pure and Proven Word instead of in the flesh (Ps 145:8, Is 43:2-3, Eph 4:31-32).

Pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44). Instead of replaying disappointments or offenses over and over in our minds, we can release the desire for vengeance to God, allowing him to bring discipline in his perfect timing (Rom 12:19). With confidence that the righteous Judge is in control, we're free to pray blessings upon our enemies that we and they would repent and be restored.

Bless those who curse us (Lk 6:28) . God says we’re to bless them in prayer and do good to the people who hurt us. This often means taking a step of faith to do something intentionally kind for the person who has possibly done something intentionally evil toward us (Lk 6:35). We’re told to “Be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves,” which means taking steps of kindness not with a naive spirit but in God’s wisdom, asking how we should respond.

Resist the devil and he will flee (Jas 4:7). Every time the temptation comes to hate our enemy or grumble about our circumstances, we can cling to God and resist the devil by standing firm in our faith (1 Pet 5:9). God promises that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear and that his grace will sustain us if we rely on him (1 Cor 10:13). We're able to stand firm in the face of temptation as we abide in the Word and in prayer, fixing our eyes on God and not our problems. 

Speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15).  After seeking God in prayer for wisdom and acknowledging our own sin, we need to go to the offender. We can lovingly, not with accusation, explain why we feel angry or hurt. If they listen, then they’ve shown themselves wise (Prov 9:8, 15:32). If they refuse to listen or acknowledge any wrongdoing, then we simply turn them over to the Lord’s discipline and allow him to bring about repentance.

God wants us to have inner peace and to live peacefully with others as much as we're able (Rom 12:18). Walking in thankfulness and love is something we're capable of doing only as we abide in Christ, trusting in his resurrection power at work in us, and doing what our Lord both models and commands. As we see in the Gospels and read in Hebrews, our Great High Priest has suffered in every way but was without sin (Heb 4:15). He is at the Father's right hand interceding for us and ready to help when we cry out to him. In, with and through him we can do all things (Rom 8:34; Phil 4:13).

"What is impossible with men is possible with God" (Lk 18:27).