Hope With You

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for He is loving and kind and comes to us with armloads of salvation. Psalm 130:7 TLB.

When in the midst of life circumstance, I just need to remember that I can tell God what I feel, for His love is so real. We need to Trust God’s Word, especially when things make no sense. What is true hope based upon? It is God, His faithfulness to His Word, and to us who believe. He promises to work within us, the Bible says, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.” (II Corinthians 3:18b NLT). Now this is cause for hope.

Consider all you have been through to make it to today. The times you thought your life would capsize, but God brought you through. However, Life is comprised more of experiences that are teaching us to trust. This past week, Ken and I attended a conference about revival. There was rich worship, teaching, and wonderful fellowship. This was a time filled with reminders that we need to walk in love and unity; to be a light in the darkness that God can use to draw others to Himself.

Included along with the conference was sweet time with my sister, whom I don’t get to see on a regular basis. Ken and I stayed with her and we had some great times talking about humorous things that happened in our growing up years. And this is the point: Hope, learning, and sometimes humor; happen after the experience. Lessons and insights aren’t usually aparent while they are transpiring. And so it would be with our time away. For while the conference was good, and we are glad we attended, there were stretching moments that included not feeling well, and being with friends that are going through crisis, and so on.

Our schedule was such that I didn’t have enough time with the Lord to process what was going on around me; which also means I didn’t get to write. And the truth about me is that when I don’t have enough quiet time, and writing time, I become undone. It’s like my nerves are exposed. And what’s worse, I have a tendency to take on burdens that don’t belong to me.

Thankfully, yesterday was a day which included hearing the Word, being with Friends, and finally, Rest. So, when I read the words this morning: “hope in the Lord; for He is loving and kind and comes to us with armloads of salvation,” I just sighed with relief. He is our hope, our all-sufficiency, and our calm when we take the time to let go of burdens that don’t belong to us; and give them to the only One who can bear the weight of them.

Let’s join the psalmist today and say, “Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness; let us praise His name together!” (Psalm 34:3 GNB). Acknowledging and focusing on God’s goodness, encourages hope, faith, and love to grow. And the Bible tells us; “God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you!” (Matthew 6:30 CEV).

Now, let’s take this day to praise Him and think on His goodness. And as we do, we know that we are planting seeds of hope, faith, and love, for a bountiful kingdom harvest.

Blessings,

Jacquie ♥