Hope against Hope: Comfort and Optimism for Christians – Julian of Norwich

Julian of Norwich, a fourteenth century anchoret, was contemplating the reason for suffering and pondered a time in her life when she desired death to life. In her turmoil of prayer and faith, God spoke these words of comfort to her:

“Suddenly thou shalt be taken from all thy pain, from all thy disease, from all thy distress and all thy woe. And thou shalt come up above and thou shalt have Me for thy reward, and thou shalt be filled with joy and bliss. And thou shalt nevermore have any manner of pain, nor any manner of sickness, nor any manner of displeasure, nor wanting of will, but ever joy and bliss without end. Why should it then aggrieve thee to suffer awhile, since it is My will and for My honour?”
– Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

Julian pointed believers to Holy Scripture as the sole source of all authority and doctrine. Thus, the revelation of the Lord to her is reminiscent of a promise from God’s inspired Word:

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away
– Revelation 21:4

It is for this reason she believed we should hope against hope, reminding Christians that testing is for a short season. As James declared: ‘The testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing’ (James 1:3-4). She wants believers to ponder their future joy, not their present trial, reminding them: