Hope is......

Hope.

I have learned the last couple of months that "hope" is not something that can be conjured up in ones heart and mind.  It is not something that comes from enough positive thinking or good ol honest effort.  It isn't something that you just wake up feeling on a good day.  That is not real hope.  There is nothing in and of this world that can produce or bring real hope to a soul that is in a dark and lonely place.  Sure there are a lot of things here that can bring comfort.  Things like a hot cup of black coffee and a really, really good doughnut.  A warm hug from my husband or my children.  But the comfort that those things bring is fleeting and ends with the last bite or as soon as the embrace is over.  I have learned and I mean really, really learned that the only place that real hope can be found is from our Father.  Our God's Holy Spirit is the only voice that can speak and coax a soul determined on withering away within itself to come out and live.  Sometimes I can get overwhelmed with the pain behind me and around me that I just want to crawl in a hole, retreat, isolate.  Hopeless.  I neglect His words, refusing to find comfort, I forget there has ever been any hope and surely none will come.  Like someone who enjoys picking a scab and not wanting to be healed.  But from that deep and dark place comes a whisper from my Lord.  The only true lover of my soul surveys the rubble around me and beckons me to once again place my eyes on Him, that He promises to do a new thing, of which I have never seen.  My past does not determine my future when my future is banked on Him.  And just like that my soul begins to feel hope again.  Not fake shallow hope.  But real hope.  Hope that is still there despite circumstances and hurtful words.  And how did it come?  Straight from His own mouth.  Words that He has spoken and had written down seemingly just for me.  You know I always write to you where I am.  So if this seemed heavy I apologize but I have been heavy. I often have ideas for emails, ways to encourage you or inspire you, but always He is very clear about what I am to share.  His message of hope has been burning in my mind like a hot coal that I can't find anywhere to put down.  I feel I have been brought low, so low these last several months and found myself questioning where did my "hope" go?  Is my hope real? True? Lasting?  Afraid at times that this feeling may be permanent.  But I have found Him more real and true than the situations I am in.  So I guess through this email I want to offer if I can a little encouragement, for I can not offer you "hope"  I can only tell you to go to The Word.  There and only there will you find the hope you are looking for.  We can sing about it.  We can read inspiring books about feeling good.  We can hire our own squad of cheerleaders.  We can get a spiritual guru for crying out loud.  But real hope is found in only one place.  His Holy Scriptures. 

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:6-8

Please don't forget our Chicks and Chocolate is next Thursday, October 4 at the home of Lynn Bridges.  It is going to be a special time as we learn about Muslim women and intercede for them in prayer.  Bring a chocolate dessert and a scarf for your head and a towel to pray on.  We are going to have a special speaker.  You don't want to miss it, I promise!
Pressing On,
Carrie