Hope is an interesting thing, it seems to be the one thing we cling to yet often feel like we have so little of. I want to pose a question again that I asked a few months back; where do you place your hope? Do you place it in your family, friends, leaders, or do you place it in the capable hands of our heavenly father? As you continue to read, I pray you’ll think about this question. I came across this verse this morning and it got me thinking about the concept of hope again.
"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." - Psalm 71:14
Hope is such a precious gift; it is important to know what we hope in and why we hope in it. If you look up the definition of hope it says: to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true (Merriam-Webster). As I said hope is a gift, yet we are so quick to place our hope in all the wrong things. We place our hope in worldly/material things and forget that we should be placing our hope in the never-failing, unending love and mercy of our God.
I think we all look for places and things to place our hope in. That thing that we think will never change or go away, however, earthly possessions never last, they fade with time just as quickly as the changes of the wind. Just when we think we have found the right thing to hope in our hope is ripped away as if it never existed. That’s the funny thing about hope though, it requires us to place faith in the hands of the unknown.
Faith in the unknown. Isn't that what hope really is? Placing faith in the promises of God, allowing His word to define who we are and how we respond and interact with those around us. Hope is such a beautiful thing friends and something we desperately need.
"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:31
I whole heartedly believe that it is only when we place our hope solely in the care of Christ that we will see change within our own lives and our communities. That’s the thing about hope; when you place your hope in the right thing everything changes. Life becomes new and different, what once seemed dead now has new life.
Place your hope in Jesus friends and you will never be disappointed. I love what this last verse tells us,
"The Lord will not reject his people: he will not abandon his special possession.” - Psalm 94:14
What a beautiful reminder that God will never abandon or forsake us! We are His sons and daughters, bought with the blood of Jesus when He died on that cross. It is such a beautiful picture of hope friends. So, I'll remind you of my question, "where are you placing your hope?" It's worth thinking about .
Much love friends,
Alianna