Hang Onto Hope

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Without hope we perish 1.png

Floyd is still the same - stable, peaceful, resting comfortably : )

As we pray for, and "expect" miracles, it's so important to keep hope alive.  The enemy will do everything he can to take away our hope.  The Bible says "without hope the people perish."  Without hope it's hard to believe for miracles.

When bad things, hard things, difficult things, disappointing things come our way - hope can evaporate in an instant.  We can only keep it alive and fresh as we look to God.  We may be afraid to risk being let down again through disappointment.  Only God can give us the grace and strength to keep hoping.  We have to wait in His presence for a fresh release of hope if it has waned in our hearts.

"Waiting with hope is very difficult, but true patience is expressed when we must even wait for hope.  I will have reached the point of greatest strength once I have learned to wait for hope."  George Matheson (taken out of ‘Jesus Today’ by Sarah Young)

When I came home after 6 weeks in the hospital, I was so very weak.  One day I was praying for God to renew my strength.  As I sat in His presence, I felt Him speaking to me that I needed a renewal of hope.  Through all I had been through, my hope (for healing, for the future, for whatever He had in store for me) was diminished.  I hadn't even realized it.  But as God spoke to my heart, I knew I needed a new release of hope.  I began to pray for that, and I made a conscious effort to keep my eyes, my focus on Him.  Hope returned in abundance.

We have been living through stressful times!  It's possible that the hope in our hearts has taken a hit without us being aware of it.  May I encourage you to join me in trusting for a fresh release of hope?  God has good things in store for us.

"Don't you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter?  Then, have hope!  Hope forever, and God will not fail you!"  Charles Spurgeon (taken out of ‘Jesus Today’ by Sarah Young)

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  Psalm 31:24

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."  Romans 15:13

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:23

"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope."  Psalm 130:5

"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

As we keep our eyes, our focus, on the Lord - the enemy has no foothold to rob us of hope!

While keeping hope alive and vibrant in our hearts - we must continually build on a heart of trust in the Lord.  Come what may, we must trust Him.  Trust must flow from our hearts continually.  We need to speak it, pray it, sing it, declare it!  It must be the foundation stone in our walk with Him.

In the midst of all that is happening in our world, in our lives - trust in God is crucial.  We don't have to understand everything.  We just have to trust Him and Him alone.

When I was in the hospital, I had many moments of weakness.  At times I was too weak to even pray, but I would say simply "I trust you Lord."  As I spoke those words, I felt His peace wash over me.  I didn't know what would happen to me, but I knew I trusted God.  He was sovereign over my life.  He "carried" me during those weeks as I've mentioned before.

Things don't go the way we thought they would.  People disappoint us, even fail us.  Life takes unexpected twists and turns.  But the one sure, solid thing is our trust in God.

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:8

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3:5,6

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you."  Isaiah 26:3

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence."  Jeremiah 17:7

I have no idea what's still ahead for Floyd, for me - but I trust Him!  He is faithful.