By Kristen Wetherell
I’ve not seen Good
Will Hunting or The Dead Poet’s
Society, but I’ve observed enough of Robin Williams on the big screen to
know that he was one talented man, one very versatile actor, who was deeply respected by many people.
My heart broke the
other day to hear of his suicide. And while many online voices are responding
to the unfortunate event, I’d like to share some thoughts, hoping they might provide
encouragement, instigate action, provoke some helpful conversation, or cause
you to think if you disagree.
I’ve not personally struggled with depression or suicidal
thoughts, so I won’t pretend like I understand these particular battles. But I
do know that all human beings struggle, in one way or another. We struggle against
our flesh and the fallen world surrounding us. For me, the darkness has lately
manifested itself in the presence of fear of failure and doubting my abilities.
One thing I know: no matter what the struggle looks like, people need hope. They
thirst for it.
Hope is like oxygen; our souls cannot survive without it.
We live and breathe on hope…even if it’s false hope. And it
is false hope that ultimately wears us down and leaves us hungering for something
more, something better. A more secure hope. A hope that won’t fail us.
We cannot hope in people; they are fickle (just like us) and
struggle with their own individual battles. We cannot hope in money or material
possessions; in an instant, they could all vanish. We cannot hope in health or
youth or beauty or vocations or dreams or abilities or success or titles.
And we most certainly cannot hope in ourselves because we
know, better than anyone else, that we are insufficient and imperfect…and
hungry for hope. We know, deep down, that we are lacking…that there is
something terribly wrong within us...even if we cannot pinpoint it.
The Apostle Paul talks about what is terribly wrong within us when he cries, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this
body of death?”
But--
then he says, “Thanks
be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).
What's happened here? Paul has
found hope.
If you’re a believer, then you have placed your hope in Jesus Christ. You
have confessed what is terribly wrong within you – your sinfulness that once separated
you from God – and you have embraced the person and work of Jesus Christ to set
you free from it.
You have placed your hope in the Son of God, who deserved to stay seated at the right
hand of his Father, but instead became a man and endured pain and suffering and
God’s rejection – ultimate darkness – so that you, an imperfect and sinful human,
would not have to be cast into utter despair forever.
Jesus Christ is your hope because he accomplished what you
never could for yourself: the total defeat of sin and darkness and death and
hopelessness, once for all time.
You have Good News other
people desperately need. It’s
easy to begin and end here: “If only Robin Williams/my friend/my co-worker/my
mom/_______ had found hope in Jesus Christ before it was too late.” And how true that is! Our grief is very real. But it is much harder to do something – to engage in an honest,
open conversation with an unbelieving neighbor or friend or family member about
the hope we've found in Jesus Christ.
Let’s not just think about the hope of Jesus in the face of such tragedy; let’s pray and proclaim the gospel. Let’s love the people we cross paths
with every day by giving them the best news they’ll ever hear. Let’s lovingly
challenge peoples’ worldviews. Let’s share with them the hope we’ve found in
Christ.
The world desperately needs hope. Will you be an ambassador
of it?
Lord Jesus, We ask that you would strengthen and sustain and comfort Robin Williams' family today. We ask in faith that they would hear the Good News and put their hope in you. We pray you would make us bold witnesses of the gospel, unashamed of the truth. Give us the words to speak as we interact with loved ones and people in our circles. For those people who are unsure or who have rejected you, call them to yourself. We love you, our Only Hope!
Amen.
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