A Note on Banishment . . . or where to find hope when things are grim?

Maybe it’s no coincidence that in these first three instances of “Don’t be afraid” in the Bible, they are all times of God drawing near when people are (or will be) banished.

Banishment is an old-fashioned word, but there are so many ways that we are made to feel banished today. Getting fired or laid off is banishment. A divorce is a banishment. Addiction is banishment from one’s true self. Many of us feel banished after the U.S. election. What do we do when our worst fears come true?

In these “Don’t be afraid” verses, the words are coming straight from God to individuals facing an uncertain future—Abraham, Hagar, and Isaac. Contained in those words, I also hear these: “When the world banishes you, I am still right here. And though things look pretty rotten from your perspective, remember the story isn’t finished yet.”

Amidst each individual’s uncertainty and fear, God urges them to keep moving forward into life. In my own experience, when I keep moving forward, God’s grace and faithfulness are revealed, sometimes only in snatches and pieces. Sometimes after a long desert march. And sometimes, the end of the story will never be seen by me.

My adult daughter is part of a program called Girls on the Run. She and other women teach elementary-age girls confidence, life skills, and how to have fun running. She loves getting outside with these girls, running laps, and experiencing together the joy and self-esteem that running brings. After the election, she shared a moment of despair that these girls would be negatively affected by policies and rhetoric that devalue them.

Something deep rose up in me to protest. “What you are doing right now with those girls, modeling strength and confidence and the joy of running,” I said, “will have so much more of an immediate, powerful impact on them.”

She paused and thought for a second. She doesn’t accept platitudes and isn’t afraid to face a hard truth. But she said, “You’re right, community-based programs can make a huge difference in people’s lives.” I know she will keep showing up for those girls in ways that are life-giving and affirming, a powerful force to counter other messages they may get.

In times of banishment, where might we journey to if we keep moving forward, even in very small steps, believing God’s story is one of creation, emergence, renewal, and most of all, faithfulness? Whose lives will be blessed and healed along the way?

Recommended podcast: What Future is Wanting to Emerge Through You? with Otto Scharmer, PhD. Hosted by Tami Simon, Insights at the Edge Podcast