Hope

by | Nov 3, 2016 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

hopeIt’s the beginning of November and there are lots of things to look forward to – i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, more football, comfort food, fun gatherings, cooler weather, Hallmark movies (my favorite) and much more!!!  I love this time of year!!

But what if you didn’t feel the hope of tomorrow?  What if you lived in a dim, dark hole without anything to look forward to?  What if every breath felt like a chore instead of a gift?  What if you woke up feeling hopeless and went to bed feeling the exact same way?  EEK!!!

If you’ve never experienced depression, you might not be able to relate to the above questions.  However, I would dare say that many of us have felt like this on some level at least once in our lives.  The circumstances might be different, but the hopeless feelings are about the same…and they stink!!

Hopelessness can happen to the best of us.  It can sink its teeth into the core of our being and suck out the joy and peace that help us endure the toughest of days.  Hopelessness trades living in the light for living in the dark and it’s a very scary, lonely place.

I doubt any of us jump into feeling this way on purpose or even consciously, but sometimes we just find ourselves there. UGH!!!

I think it’s more of a byproduct of our hectic lives where we place more value on things rather than on what really counts.  We get overwhelmed with the daily tasks and forget to be aware of the moments that make our lives matter.

It doesn’t help that the way of world brings hopelessness into view because it’s all about what we don’t have and not about what we do have.

However, when we place our hope in Jesus Christ instead of worldly possessions, we are promised an eternity with Him and that gives us the hope we all long for…even if it’s not an instantaneous fix. (Sure wish it was!!)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. … Romans 5:1-21

The best way we can combat hopelessness is to remember the many blessings we have been bestowed.  That’s why I think the month of November is a great time to write down something that we are thankful for each day so that we will be reminded of what we have instead of dwelling on what we don’t or what’s wrong.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Don’t let hopelessness overtake you!  Remember your blessings and ask Jesus for His peace, joy and hope!!

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 23:18 – Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

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