Hopeless… the sense or belief that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. It tries to convince us that nothing will ever be right again.  It’s claim is that God’s mercy is not bigger than our messiness. Hopelessness is giving in to what “hopeless” is whispering to our hearts.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

At one time, I thought this verse was referring to unfulfilled hope making our hearts ache.  However, it is possible to view this verse differently and find an applicable truth.  Deferred means to put off or delay.  Could it be that what makes our hearts ache is not the lack of what we hope for, but the lack of hope?  When we put off hoping, thinking that what we long for isn’t in our future, it is then that our hearts truly ache from the loss… the loss of hope, the loss of expectancy.

But when desire comes, when hope rises in us, there is life and expectancy!

Hope… it’s the little word that roars in our spirits!  Hope is that ember of burning coal in an otherwise spent fire.  It is the fallen warrior who rises up on the abandoned battle field.  Hope is the tiny flower that dares to bloom in the dry and thirsty place.  Hope.

Photo credits: Andre Scultori

Often times I have thoughts stirring in my mind and heart and I jot notes down to go back to when I have some time.  One of my recent entries simply said this:

H-Holding
O-Onto
P-Promises
E-Expectantly

A few weeks ago, Pastor Rita Langeland of Hidden With Christ Ministries, a precious woman with an amazing heart, dropped in to share a word the Lord had given her for our church family.  I was excited to hear that her word was titled: Get Your Hopes Up!  As I took notes, I appreciated her explanation of two different hopes:

Hope in the Changeable
Hope in the Unchangeable

If you are like me, you probably don’t have to go too far back in your memory to find a time when you were hopeful for something and ended up with a bucketful of disappointment! Unfulfilled hopes are a part of life.  It’s not that we shouldn’t desire these things… a certain job, a newer car, a better living situation, etc.  But rather that we shouldn’t put our hope IN or our reliance ON those things.  Hoping in desired circumstances is hope in the changeable.  It is hope that more often than not, may disappoint.

But… hope in the unchangeable will not disappoint!  Hope in God’s faithfulness, His unchanging love, His lovingkindness, His mercy, and His grace… that is hope that will never let us down!  No matter the circumstances that we encounter, we can confidently trust that God’s plans for us are to prosper us!  Romans 8:28 states that when we are lovers of God, all things in our lives will ultimately work out for our good.  That is something worth placing our hope in!

I’ve revised my notes to say:

H-Holding
O-Onto HIS
P-Promises
E-Expectantly

What word has the Lord whispered into your heart and spirit?  Is it a verse you are clinging to?  Is it a promise you are standing on?  Hold onto hope in the Unchangeable One!  Though you may have to wait, you will not be disappointed by His faithfulness!

“Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.” Psalm 33:22 NLT

Dive Deeper: Romans 5:1-5, Jeremiah 29:11-13

Please share your thoughts below, I appreciate hearing from my readers!

Live Loved,