We are Made from Love, for Love

Cynicism is the loss of hope in others. It’s an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest. Despair is a loss of hope in general, but cynicism fuels us toward its destructive power. Our cynical disappointment with others cultivates and accelerates the disease of despair. To believe that other people are evil, or even enemies of God, to obsess about burning in hell, and to condemn others to that kind of fate in the name of God is what I call a theology of despair.

I remember the airplane seat I was sitting in when deep truth sank into my heart—12F. I was in midflight listening to Jon Foreman’s song “All God’s Children,” and the refrain brought tears to my eyes: “All of God’s children are shining underneath.” This deep thought that underneath all of my own pain, shame, grief, and guilt, underneath the darkest brokenness in me, was something sacred—well, this thought flooded my heart.

Jon continued singing, “Underneath these wars. Underneath these walls. Underneath the bullet holes. I still don’t know who we are. But it’s shining underneath.” And I wept for all of us. I wept that we have allowed sin to have a first and final word. It occurred to me that seeing God’s love as the first and final word, the one that overcomes sin and conquers it, was the power I needed to hope for humanity again.

This is why the journey of discovering hope leads me to Jesus. This is what Jesus does for us all: Brings life. Conquers death. Sets the oppressed free. Liberates the captives. Gives sight to the blind. You know, authentic hope.

Love is a power greater than any other. You are made from love. Made for love. Made in love. And by love I mean that you are wanted, received, worthy, whole, sacred, and complete. I guess in a way I’m just reliving my son’s nighttime ritual with you. Who made you? God made you. And how did he make you? He made you good. He made us all good. This is the great invitation of Jesus: to discover the light shining underneath, light that will lead us through the dark.

Respond

If cynicism is a loss of hope in others, how might seeing those who disappoint you in the light of God’s love transform your thoughts and feelings of hopelessness?