True Hope for Our Hearts

I recently wrote this devotional and wanted to share it with you...

The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. PSALM 33:18

Turn on your television and you’ll see a kaleidoscope of hope. The housing industry hopes for an economic recovery. Little boys and girls hope for the latest toy to be under the tree on Christmas morning. The incoming administration hopes to change our country. People hope their New Year’s resolutions will improve their lives.

We could each add a hope of our own to the list. Perhaps yours is a hope for a loved one to return safely from deployment. Maybe you hope this year you’ll beat the diagnosis. You might hope for your marriage to be reconciled. Or you may be hoping today for a job to replace the one recently lost.

Hope is a gift from God. It helps us look to the future and face another day. Yet there is a far deeper hope for us than any of those listed above. In the book of Psalms, King David uses the phrase “hope for” one time. But he uses the phrase “hope is in” six times. Over and over he essentially says to God, “My hope is in you.” That kind of hope is much deeper and wilder. It’s based on an unshakeable trust in God and a belief that only He can truly save us and fulfill the desires of our hearts.

I’ve had a taste of that kind of hope. For more than four years, my husband and I have struggled with infertility. When we began that journey, our hope was for a baby. While that hope is still there, we’ve also discovered hoping in God is where our hearts truly find rest. During baby dedication in church recently I felt the ache return. Silently I began to repeat, “Lord, I know you. I trust you no matter what happens. You have blessed us so much—if you are withholding this from us then it is for a good and loving reason.” As we began to worship, the hurt in my heart slowly was replaced once again by an inexplicable hope.

There’s something about shifting our focus from what we hope for to who we hope in that soothes our souls and brings healing to our hearts. None of us know what the future will hold but we do know the One who holds every moment of our lives in His hands. As we celebrate and begin a new year, may we firmly place our hope in the God who came for us and promises to be with us always. In the unending kaleidoscope of hope around us and within us, He is the One who never changes.

Comments

[Jeanette Levellie]

Holley: I love what you say about shifting the focus of our hope from something to Someone-- God. This is a profound thought!
I too have found that when my heart is broken, like yours was Sunday in church during baby dedication, worshipping the Lord unleashes His peace and healing.
Thank you for being so transparent in your posts-- truly refreshing!
Jeanette

[Charlotte Yoder]

Thanks so much for this insight! I've been longing to get married, am 45 and a missionary in Germany, and I tend to focus on what I'm hoping for. So this was a perfect word for me! Hope in God because this hope will never disappoint me, for He has poured out His love into my heart by the Holy Spirit. (I think that's in Romans.)Thanks again! Charlotte

[Tabbitha]

Holley, thank you for sharing this personal insight and struggle. I believe that the areas the Lord allows to remain barren in our lives is very purposeful. You understand this :) He knows the hour when the father will be most glorified. Think of Lazarus...I mean, Jesus seemed to be 4 days late in that case! And yet, he hears the cries of the ones who look to Him to fulfill every barrn place, even when it seems to be too late...even stinking-in-the-grave-dead late! Loved this post.