"What happened this time?'
We both know. He doesn't need to ask, but he likes and wants me to tell him.
"I hoped too much." I reply. He cocks an eyebrow. "I hoped, and prayed, but my dreams were dashed. My heart, my hope, it's broken."
"Dear heart, you can't have too much hope," He responds, "You can hope for the wrong things, or the right things at the wrong time, or confuse expectations with hope, but hoping too much isn't the problem. You lost sight of me, and stopped hoping for what I have in store for you. You expected a certain thing to happen, something that isn't my will for you. Not everything in your future will be pleasant, but if you trust me, I'll bring the right thing at the right time."
Hope. People react differently to the four letter word. It's intangible, immeasurable, and for some, unattainable. It's something they've lost. Do you find yourself losing hope? Do you have unfulfilled dreams? What IS hope, anyway?
Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience
Hope is unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen
In order to hope, you must believe with conviction, that God will fulfill what He has started. (Phil 1:6)
In order to have faith, you must hope in the unseen, immeasurable. It's scary sometimes.
But you know what? Christ always shows up. (Deut. 31:6)
That's something to hope about.
Take heart! Allow yourself to hope again. Bring the pieces of your heart before God's throne, and ask Him what happened. Were you hurt because of expectations masquerading as hope? Take the time to let Him evaluate your heart, and your hope.
Here is a link to some great verses about hope.
May you be blessed!
