“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will walk and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
The day I shut my blog down… I wasn’t feeling so hopeful.
I called my sister and said…”I shut the whole operation down.
I don’t want to have wrong motives or intents, false sense of security, needing people’s approval.”
She came back with a one liner (like she always does) that cut right to the core…
“I thought you said God was leading you to tell His story.”
Though that was true…did I somehow twist it all. What if…my motives were skewed.
In all the what ifs I see how I was making it about me. Whether I get it wrong or right. Whether I measure up or say just the right thing. If I reveal too much or not enough. It was me taking a firm hold and trying to figure it out.
Trying to be enough.
Trying to run the ship.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” -Proverbs 13:12
Where does true hope and help come from?
When I think about someone who had all reason to lose hope; I think of Joseph in the Bible. He came from an abusive background. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Thrown into a pit. Mistreated. Captured. Imprisoned. Lied to and about. Wrongfully accused. Yet He continued to look up. He knew where his hope and his help came from. He chose to keep choosing life and believing better. Walking with his God. Despite his circumstances. He stayed close. He followed where He led and listened to His voice. Though there were dark pits and prison bars. I’m sure he had to question, doubt, or feel confused at times…because we know he was human. But he knew who walked with Him. He didn’t stay defined by his circumstances, his past or his fears. He didn’t let his eyes stay fixed on his surroundings but rather hoped in His God. In the end, He came out on the other side. He didn’t lose hope or give up. Joseph knew where His freedom came from. He rested secure in God’s love and it didn’t matter what the crowd or critics thought. He just kept going.
“Even what the enemy means for evil, you turn it for our good and for your glory…
Even in the valley you are faithful.” -Aaron Keyes
If I truly believe that sharing the hope of Jesus is worth the risk; in His rescue to take us in all our imperfections and not enoughness and make us right in Him. That He is our reason to share hope in the midst of whatever struggle we are walking through. That we can tell our imperfect stories. We can keep moving forward in Him. That we can share even when we aren’t perfect; because He’s perfect. And to point to him while we still have the chance, to sing of His love.
I hope you settle the issue in his Love. I hope we can securely put our hope in the only One who truly satisfies. With renewed strength. Soaring above the mud, the fray, and whatever maybe lurking trying to steal our hope. May we find as we rest in His love; He is always more than enough. As we trust Him with it all…Hope rises. When our Hope is in Him, we will never walk away disappointed.
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…” -Romans 4:18
Hugs and Love,
Kristina
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