Have you ever been disappointed? Do you know what it is to lose hope? I'm sure you do. Even as Christians we can find our hope flailing alongside our wounded heart at times. Yet, the Bible shows us hope is vital to our walk. We're told to have hope. To hold onto hope.
Yet...
It's hard to trust after we've been let down, isn't it. It's difficult to get up and keep going when what we were hoping for does not come to pass, ay. And, no matter how much we wish we could, we find we just can't get up and keep going without hope, no matter Who it is we believe in.
Lose hope and you soon lose the will to live. Depression will kick in and drive you to the end of your rope, with which you'll be tempted to harm yourself. I know; I've been there.
Hopelessness is the worst feeling, isn't it.
If you've experienced these things, you'll know what I'm talking about.
You know, you're not alone in experiencing hopelessness. Many of us find ourselves there - often. Even Christians lose hope... But ya gotta wonder: Why do Christians lose hope?
Christians lose hope because we tend to place our it in the wrong thing. Rather than place hope (and our faith) in God, we place it in the thing we want to come to pass. We also tend to place our hope in "man", or things, or our own abilities and desires. We grab hold of a desire, we allow our heart to nurture it, and then we hang on to it like a dog with a bone - whether God directed our hearts to it or not. Then, when that which we were hoping for is not given to us, we lost faith in God. We blame Him for letting us down.
But, God never told us to place our hope in what we want. We're told to trust Him - no matter what does or does not come our way.
The thing is, when your hope is placed in anything or anyone but God, then you can bet all you own that you will soon be confronted by major disappointment.
I'm married to a great guy, but I don't put my hope in him. We've been married for 21 years and all that time we've had debt over our head - I have never pushed Tim to work harder or earn more money, or whatever, because my hope is not in him. I've recently sent my novel off to a publisher, and, yes, I hope it will be published, but if not my life won't end. Sure, I'll feel a little let down, but I'll get back up. I mean, where is it written that God promised me I'll be published? I've had personal revelations, sure, but, when all is said and done, my hope is not in being published, my hope is in God. My trust is in God. My life depends on God. Not on something I do or own or belong to.
You know what I mean? We're not to put our hope in anything that time can take from us. Our hope needs to be in God - in who He is; in His heart; in His will for our lives.
God once placed on my heart, "Sooner or later, whether they mean to or not, everyone will let you down." And I have to be ok with that. That's life. We all walk this world with a limp - so to speak. We're all flawed. But not God. Not Jesus. Not the Holy Spirit. They are not swayed by circumstances, as we are. They are not prone to mood swings. They know what love is and they stay true to it. They know the plans and the good things they have for each of us, so they're not worried about anything other than helping us match our footsteps and faith with that of their hearts and plans. When we miss it, WE miss it. Not them. Not God. We're to put our hope in them, trusting their hearts, and letting them lead.
Your partner has let you down? Chances are, you've let them down, too, ay. But God's not a moody human.
You didn't get the partner of your choice? Was that the partner of God's choosing? Were you looking to "man" for love, rather than trusting God to handpick the ideal partner for you?
You didn't get that job? No worries; God knew that was going to happen, and He has a plan.
Your novel didn't get published? So who's to say God hasn't got another publisher in mind?
Things happen for a reason, and we don't, or can't, always know the reason, but God does, and that's why we must place our faith and hope in Him. Not in others, not in money, not in desires, not in wishful thinking, not in selfish desires and so on. We must place our hope in GOD. Either we trust Him or we don't. If we don't, then we'll place our hope elsewhere, and if we do that we need to get ready to be disappointed.
Anything and everything that will eventually die will let you down... God won't. Trust Him... Place your hope in Him and trust that He knows best and that He wants the best for you. But don't just trust with your head saying, "Yeah, I know, but..." Rather, trust with your whole heart, believing, knowing, trusting God is faithful and true. Then when circumstances are not favourable, you'll be able to get up again, smiling, knowing God's still in control, He still has a plan, and you are at the top of His "to-do" list!
Yet...
It's hard to trust after we've been let down, isn't it. It's difficult to get up and keep going when what we were hoping for does not come to pass, ay. And, no matter how much we wish we could, we find we just can't get up and keep going without hope, no matter Who it is we believe in.
Lose hope and you soon lose the will to live. Depression will kick in and drive you to the end of your rope, with which you'll be tempted to harm yourself. I know; I've been there.
Hopelessness is the worst feeling, isn't it.
If you've experienced these things, you'll know what I'm talking about.
You know, you're not alone in experiencing hopelessness. Many of us find ourselves there - often. Even Christians lose hope... But ya gotta wonder: Why do Christians lose hope?
Christians lose hope because we tend to place our it in the wrong thing. Rather than place hope (and our faith) in God, we place it in the thing we want to come to pass. We also tend to place our hope in "man", or things, or our own abilities and desires. We grab hold of a desire, we allow our heart to nurture it, and then we hang on to it like a dog with a bone - whether God directed our hearts to it or not. Then, when that which we were hoping for is not given to us, we lost faith in God. We blame Him for letting us down.
But, God never told us to place our hope in what we want. We're told to trust Him - no matter what does or does not come our way.
The thing is, when your hope is placed in anything or anyone but God, then you can bet all you own that you will soon be confronted by major disappointment.
I'm married to a great guy, but I don't put my hope in him. We've been married for 21 years and all that time we've had debt over our head - I have never pushed Tim to work harder or earn more money, or whatever, because my hope is not in him. I've recently sent my novel off to a publisher, and, yes, I hope it will be published, but if not my life won't end. Sure, I'll feel a little let down, but I'll get back up. I mean, where is it written that God promised me I'll be published? I've had personal revelations, sure, but, when all is said and done, my hope is not in being published, my hope is in God. My trust is in God. My life depends on God. Not on something I do or own or belong to.
You know what I mean? We're not to put our hope in anything that time can take from us. Our hope needs to be in God - in who He is; in His heart; in His will for our lives.
God once placed on my heart, "Sooner or later, whether they mean to or not, everyone will let you down." And I have to be ok with that. That's life. We all walk this world with a limp - so to speak. We're all flawed. But not God. Not Jesus. Not the Holy Spirit. They are not swayed by circumstances, as we are. They are not prone to mood swings. They know what love is and they stay true to it. They know the plans and the good things they have for each of us, so they're not worried about anything other than helping us match our footsteps and faith with that of their hearts and plans. When we miss it, WE miss it. Not them. Not God. We're to put our hope in them, trusting their hearts, and letting them lead.
Your partner has let you down? Chances are, you've let them down, too, ay. But God's not a moody human.
You didn't get the partner of your choice? Was that the partner of God's choosing? Were you looking to "man" for love, rather than trusting God to handpick the ideal partner for you?
You didn't get that job? No worries; God knew that was going to happen, and He has a plan.
Your novel didn't get published? So who's to say God hasn't got another publisher in mind?
Things happen for a reason, and we don't, or can't, always know the reason, but God does, and that's why we must place our faith and hope in Him. Not in others, not in money, not in desires, not in wishful thinking, not in selfish desires and so on. We must place our hope in GOD. Either we trust Him or we don't. If we don't, then we'll place our hope elsewhere, and if we do that we need to get ready to be disappointed.
Anything and everything that will eventually die will let you down... God won't. Trust Him... Place your hope in Him and trust that He knows best and that He wants the best for you. But don't just trust with your head saying, "Yeah, I know, but..." Rather, trust with your whole heart, believing, knowing, trusting God is faithful and true. Then when circumstances are not favourable, you'll be able to get up again, smiling, knowing God's still in control, He still has a plan, and you are at the top of His "to-do" list!