Hold onto Hope

When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on the delay can be depressing, but when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.  Prov 13:12 TPT

The first part of this verse seems to have become my life for the past year. I continually ask God when will I experience a longing fulfilled or life's sweetness? At times I have not weathered the storm well. I have gotten to a place of worry and fear. I have lost hope and have just wanted to give up. I have even gotten mad at God and asked Him why and when. I know this last statement may shock some of you, I am not proud of the fact but God used this to show me another side of how good He is.

While I don't understand why this season continually stretches out before me I know God is using this season to grow my hope and trust in Him and to work out all the fears, worries, and insecurities still residing within me. At times I have wanted to go at this battle alone because after all I seem to be saying the same things over and over again and it gets old, well that and I get tired of it being all about me.

Recently as I began to loose hope again God began speaking to me through different songs and the picture that is shown below. When I first saw this painting I could not stop looking at it because it seemed God was speaking to me through this painting. I believe this painting represents a seedling of hope that is being grown and developed in the Master's hands. In this place the seedling is safe and secure and has been planted in such rich soil that will allow it to grow and develop into what it was designed and created to be.

No matter what you are facing don't lose hope! There is no failure in God, His promises are true, and He is more than able. His nature is one of love, hope, and joy. His every thought and plan He has for us is good. While I don't understand why people deal with lifetime illnesses without seeing healing, or have physical needs that don't seem to be met, or even why promises spoken don't seem to come to pass I know God is still able and He is more than enough.

If you too are struggling with holding onto hope; begin to meditate on His promises, begin to verbally speak out of your mouth His promises, and begin to praise and worship Him for the promises yet fulfilled. Find something in your situation to be thankful for and begin to declare your words of thanksgiving to God.

Lastly, don't go at it alone! I know when I hold it in and don't talk about all that is happening within me is when I face some of my toughest battles. It is not always easy to share but make sure you are planted in a good church and find at least one person you trust who you can share all of your struggles with.

I am beyond thankful for the community God has blessed me with. Even when I don't want to talk they ask just the right questions to open me up and allow the light of who God is to shine once again down inside of me. They are great to restore me to a place of hope, even when they don't know it. Eccl 4:10 & 12 has been proven true for me over and over again within this community.

It's better to have a partner than go it alone.  Share the work, share the wealth.  And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there's no one to help, tough!  By yourself you're uprooted.  With a friend you can face the worst.  Can you round up a third?  A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.  Ecc 4:10, 12 MSG

A special thanks to my community!  You all have been such a blessing to me.  More than even my words can say.  When I have wanted to give up in despair you have unknowingly restored me to a place of hope and trust.   I love each of you so much and am extremely thankful to be doing life with you.

Here are some songs that you can listen to and mediate on that will strengthen your hope:  Take Heart by Hillsong, God I look to You by Brian and Jenn Johnson,  and Nothing Wasted by Elevation Music.  I know there are so many others but these are a few that God has given to me personally. 

There is nothing to hard for our God!

Blessings.