Kick-Starting Hope

Hope (at least for me) requires some looking back as well as peering into the murky waters of the future.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9

The counsel here is clear…don’t forget, don’t let these experiences slip away. Use them, pass them on…exercise them. The power of hope is strengthen by exercising our memory muscle, by remembering how faithful God is. It’s the kick start that hope needs to register deep in our spirit.

Truthfully, I see little hope in the situation I find myself in and though many have encouraged me with “you’re on the verge of a breakthrough” comments (I have appreciated those BTW) it is hard to see how this particular crisis will end for my good.

The circumstances offer no hope, no relief and cause me angst of Biblical proportions…but, that’s not what where my hope lies.

And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. Psalm 39:7

Remembering what God has done (and is doing) for me, is the restoring agent, causing hope to return despite those nasty circumstances. The focus is on Him and not just on His promises but on the Father who loves us completely. The place of struggle, the circumstances, the pain…these are places where we can exercise our memory muscle and look back rejoicing at all He done.

That sounds like hope to me…

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27: 14

“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.” - Martin Luther King JR

This post is part of the One Word blog carnival hosted by Bridget Chumbley where this time the discussion is about “Hope.” Hop on over to read all the great posts hosted there!