Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Waiting seems to be a constant in life. We are always waiting on something or someone. Whether it’s waiting for our next appointment, for a meeting to conclude, or for our children or spouse to be ready to go somewhere – waiting is the one thing that we are always doing. However, we are always hoping as well. Hoping that the next appointment will go well. Hoping that the meeting will have a favorable outcome. Hoping our family members will be ready on time.
Most people don’t consider this “hope” in the same way, since when we are hoping for these things, it’s almost a part of who we are. It is a like a second thought – a sub-conscious thing. Instead of using the word “hope”, we use the word “maybe”. Maybe this time will be better. Maybe it will work out the way I would like it to happen. We have made these words interchangeable without realizing it. (more…)
As we look around at the world we live in, it can feel oppressive and depressing, yet we also have hope. Hope is the one thing that can bolster our spirits when all else fails and our personal world feels as if it is crumbling around us, . Hope, like Faith, can be looked at as an intangible factor. In other words, it is not something we can reach out and physically touch. However, it is something that not only can touch our lives but can give us strength to move forward.
There are times when we are walking through the valley of life. When we look up, we can’t see the sun shining. We have to force ourselves to press on – to take one more step forward – to inhale the next breath, as we are tempted to give up in the face of the exhausting struggle with the world seemingly so dark around us. We want to sit down – or even better, lay down, curl up into a ball and just disappear. In these moments, it is easy to consider giving up. Yet it is also these moments that the spark of Light which dwells within us ignites into a powerful thing called hope. It is the hope that taking the next step – and the one after that – we will see life and the challenges become little bit easier. It is the hope that once we climb our of the valley of darkness, we will reach a plateau of light and warmth. (more…)
What do you believe in? Are you looking back or looking forward? Are you looking at you and seeing where you are and where you would like to go? 2020 has been a tough year. I doubt that there have been too many lives that have been left untouched. There has been diversity, division and destruction. People are struggling, not just in the economy, but spiritually as well.
We need to not allow ourselves to fall into despair. We need to remember that our hope lies in Christ. That when we are weak He is strong. That we can move forward in our faith because we have hope. Hope is the glue that binds our lives together. It is the thing that helps us take the next step forward. It may seem distant and unreachable at times. It is the light at the end of the tunnel, the candle in the darkness; it is the lighthouse off the rocky, stormy shores that is guiding us toward safety.
We need to hold on to our faith and hope now more than ever. We need to remember our foundational beliefs. We also need to remember that even though the storms of life may rage against us, we have a safe harbor. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Ps 91:2 It is important to remind ourselves of this from time to time. It is easy to struggle, to get lost, to get caught up in what the world is saying and doing. It is easy to let the waves of depression cover us; especially with the onslaught of negativity with which the news is constantly bombarding us.
It is important to know when to step back, to refresh, to find ourselves and just breathe. We need to find a place of solitude where we can communicate with our Creator and be reminded of His presence and love. We need to remember it is important to soak in all that He has for us, strength, love, peace, joy and so much more. These things are what give us hope. They are what help us take the next step. We can’t neglect our spiritual needs like we often do our physical ones. When you starve your spirit, it is the same thing as what happens when you starve your body. You start to wither. You start to lose connection with what you need to survive.
Sometimes it is important to disconnect in order to reconnect. For me I find that I need to go out into nature and just exist in the moment. Stand in a field and just breathe. Take in the beauty of a raging river or the sun rising or setting. I need to recognize the leaves drifting from the trees as the season changes and the burst of life as Spring comes along. Remember that we are not dead: we may be dormant, but when the Son shines upon us, we thrive and grow. God gives us what we need; we just need to accept it. Open our hearts and our minds. Turn from what deluge that the world is inundating us with and lift our hearts and minds to our Maker.
Even in the darkness, there is hope. Even in the trials of life, there is hope. In all things consider His ways. Lean not to our own understanding. We need to hold on to our beliefs. We need to remember why we have these beliefs. Perhaps we even need to question ourselves and see if we still believe. Find our answers and remember that when all else fails, we still have hope. Hope is not just a character quality. It is not just an invisible factor. Hope can sustain us. Hope can strengthen us. Hope can be a guide to help us continue to move forward.
So as we enter a new year and leave the last one behind, I encourage you to start your year with hope and end it with love.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. –Ephesians 6:12
The spirit of Depression is one that has its claws in so many people. As the world seemingly grows darker around us, with evil acts abounding, depression digs its claws into more and more people. This year especially has been beyond difficult for individuals. The number of suicides due to depression is a statistic that is often unstressed. We ignore what we don’t want to deal with. Depression clings and people fight it on a daily, hourly basis. Yet, we are unaware because their outward expression is of facade that they give to the world. (more…)
We have all heard the story of the man who built his house upon the sand and the man who built his house upon the rock. The lesson of the story is that it is important to choose what kind of foundation we will build on. Will it be weak or strong? Not only is it important factor when physically building something but it is in our spiritual lives as well.
If your foundation is made up of lies and taking shortcuts, then the life you grow will be built on them. When you try to shortcut your life. you can end up far away from where you want to be or planned to be. It is easy to find yourself off the path that God has set for you. Not only are you hurting others, but you are hurting yourself. When you build your life on the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, gentleness and self control – you will find that your foundation is strong. It takes a lot to follow this path as sometimes it may seem easier to take advantage of people’s kindness to step on them and get ahead. Yet in the long term, we are not only building our lives for this realm but also for the next one. (more…)
