Day 79...Where is your hope?

Dear Sadie,

I just had these thoughts about stress, fear, unbelief, anxiety, depression and HOPE swirling in my head today.  I'm inspired to write you about hope, and how our hope in Jesus is the foundation for true happiness on earth and beyond this material world into eternity.  And just as I began to sit and write, I landed on a song from iTunes to play as I write, and look what I chose unknowingly.  How perfect!  I don't think I could say it any better, so I'll let you read the words first and then I'll comment.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

Sadie, Sadie, Sadie.  I get to see you now, a three year-old, not a care in the world.  How I long to see you never lose your carefree child-like spirit!  Trust me; trusting in Jesus, this is possible to keep!  I have not arrived, but I have left! (as they say)  It is truly the tastiest life to put your hope in Him!  While it is not a life absent of trouble, it is a life full of unending peace.  Without first tasting Him, you cannot expect to share Him, as I am learning.

Today my thoughts for my own life I share with you, as I contemplate hope.  Where do I put my hope and in what do I trust?  Hope and trust go hand in hand.  What is hope? It's an expectation of something to come.  What is trust?  Belief in something or someone to come through.  I want to always have my expectations resting in Jesus.  I want to always believe in Jesus.  Both continually, not just once.  Jesus is the place we want to rest both our hope and trust, and not pick it up.  eing the answer for both in my life, I have let striving for perfect cease, and I have become like clay in His hands.  I am in good hands!  I trust in His Goodness to me.  I hope, expect, Him always to move on my behalf, to be with Him in heaven one day, to fulfill all of His promises to me.

Everyone hopes in something.  There are superficial hopes that can rule your life if you let them.  There are solid hopes of well-meaning expectations.  Here are a few you might have yourself or hear around you:
I hope I can maintain a healthy weight.
I hope I can stay looking young.
I hope we can pay the bills and even go on a vacation one day.
I hope this job will sustain us.
I hope to have a good marriage.
I hope my kids follow Jesus all of their lives.
I hope I can design my house someday the way I envision.
I hope we can do some more serious traveling again someday, even on the mission field.

No matter how small or how big, the answer is always Jesus.  How?  Because a hope deferred makes the heart sick. (Proverbs 13:12)  And guess what?  Jesus will never disappoint you.  If you put your hope in Him, trusting (again, hand in hand) in His goodness, your heart will not fail you.

Every day, people choose stress over hoping in God.  They choose to stress over expectations not met, essentially.  Plans not going accordingly.  If you figure out early that they rarely ever do, and so put your hope and trust in God who does not change, you will ride the waves of life, rather than being tossed around by them.  I didn't say it first, God's word did.  It's just something He's teaching me, and I HOPE it means something to you one day.

In Christ alone, my hope is found.  And not just one day I'll be in heaven because I have been redeemed, hope.  Yes, that is truly a blessing and where it all begins.  That is the answer!  But also hope for the now.  He is here.

Love,
Mommy

"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