Keeping Hope Alive

The weather forecast calls for temperatures in the 80s and 90s this week. The kids and I are going camping with our church this weekend. People are still swimming and taking their boats out on the lake. But I can tell winter is coming.

The leaves on the tree outside my bedroom window started turning from green to red a couple weeks ago. Many of them have already fallen to the ground. The night air is too crisp to sleep with the window open, and my feet are cold against the kitchen floor in the morning. The kids have started back to school, and I was starting to lose hope in my dreams for this year.

At the beginning of every year, I get so excited, as most of us do. I make a list of all the things I hope to accomplish this year. All the habits and behaviors I want to change. “New year, new me” becomes our motto. 2020: the year of perfect vision! We’ve seen a lot so far, that’s for sure…

For some of us, there is one thing in particular we hope for, dream of, and pray for. One thing we want more than anything. For some, it’s to have a baby. For others, it’s a relationship. For others it could be to write a book, start a business, get that promotion. Whatever it is, it’s usually something big and we are sure this is finally our year.

We carry this optimism through the spring and summer, but something curious starts to happen–at least with me–around fall. The hope starts to dwindle. The dream we had so much confidence in starts to fade. There may still be four months left in the year, but our hopefulness is vanishing as quickly as the daylight hours. My advice to you is what I have been telling myself for the last couple weeks: don’t give up!

He is a God of Suddenly
God doesn’t need weeks or months to do something. He can just speak things into existence. Isaiah 48:3 says “I have declared the former things from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.” Four months may feel like a short time to you, but all God needs is an instant.

His Timing is Perfect
God is never late concerning His promises, neither is He too early. He’s always right on time. Maybe we aren’t quite ready for our blessing, or it’s not quite ready for us. We may not know that, but God knows; trust in His perfect timing. Some of my favorite verses about waiting are:

Habakkuk 2:3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Stop trying to Make it Happen in Your Own Strength
I struggle with this a lot. As a single mom for the last six years, I am used to making things happen. If I want something done, I have to do it myself or be humble enough to ask for help. I can tell you this much- God wants the glory. Sometimes, God will wait until there seems to be no way and all hope is lost before He acts. He wants us and everyone around us to know He alone is the Waymaker.

Romans 4:20,21 Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

Keep Praying
I’m always reminded of the parable of the persistent widow. Her plea for justice against her enemies was heard by an unjust judge. He refused her plea, but she was so persistent, he finally gave in just so she would stop badgering him. Luke 18:1 speaks of this parable and says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” If Jesus says, “Don’t give up”, we should listen!

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

My hope is renewed today, and I pray yours is too. No matter what you are praying for, don’t lose heart, give it to God, and keep on praying.

Psalm 27:13,14 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!