Hope Now...Again

Almost three years ago I wrote the following blog. Its funny how you can go back to something and know the circumstances are completely, 100% different, but know that God is still the same. His Word is ALIVE! It comforts us in every situation in life.

I have to say that this has been one of the most joyous years I've had. No particular reason, except last year was filled with so many trials, that I am learning to trust God more than ever.

Life brings disappointment. It comes in our circumstances. It shows up due to others' sins. It can humble us because of our own sin. It can be from tragedy. Or, it can simply be because you trusted someone with your heart, and not necessarily in a romantic sense. Sometimes, you can see it coming from a mile away, but you just don't want to admit it yet. Sometimes it catches you so off guard, it takes your breath away. And, sometimes you're the only that sees it...at least for a little while.

The latter can be really hard. To be disappointed by someone you trust. To sit back and pray that it never happens again...but knowing, full well, that a person's consistent character will always come through. To keep your mouth shut because no one would believe you or because its hard to believe yourself. To watch this person hurt someone you care about. To watch them belittle others and be so puffed up with pride that you think they'll explode. My prayer was that it was a one time thing. That these two people just butted heads, didn't "click".

I was wrong. Yet again, I let that same person surprise and shock me. I let my heart get too close, knowing their character. This time it was worse. Even though it wasn't with someone that I worked closely with and I didn't walk through each individual trial, it was someone that is precious to me. Friends that are a solid foundation for my family.

It seems as adults, we come to crossroads. For a long time, the pros can outweigh the cons, but one day you realize that a person's character is so much more important than a job they do very well. To some, that person may be "the best" in the business. But, at what point do we stop overlooking the true character and integrity of a person and stand up for what is right?

Through the disappointments that have met us recently, I can still laugh and have joy because my God reigns! In my life and the in the lives of the people I love! No person can bring us down unless we allow them to. Choose to keep your eyes on the Lord. As long as we do that, our vision stay clear and, most importantly, maintains an eternal perspective.
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Hope Now by Addison Road

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of?
When I call out your name something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I’m yours
I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by you all my life
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be ok and make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by you all my life
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
You’ve become my heart’s desire
And I will sing your praises higher
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

This song has really spoken to me the last few days. Everything comes down to God loving us. He sent His only Son b/c he loved us so much. So if everything comes down to Him loving us, doesn’t that mean that He will always take care of us? And, that everything He does, He does in LOVE? So what are we so afraid of? Why do we think that He will just “forget” us? Why do we think He will just leave us to fend for ourselves? Why do we think He will just, all of the sudden, stop guiding us? We have nothing to fear since He is on our side! He is ALWAYS there for us to call upon! Just like the song says, “How quickly I forget I’m yours.” I’m not my own and I have been bought with a price…He has carried me the moment I believed! We have hope in Him that no one else and nothing else can give! We can step out in faith and trust Him! Trust that He has our best interest at hand. Trust that He is working EVERYTHING for His glory!!! Even when we can’t see it; even if its not the “perfect” circumstances; even if it comes in a completely different package than you expected…we can trust that He knows EXACTLY what He is doing. We just have to trust Him. A few years ago, I told my best friend that I wish she could see into my future (and I into hers), just so she could tell me that everything is going to be "okay". She looked right at me and said that she CAN tell me that everything is going to be "okay" b/c God is in control. The funny thing is, after I thought about that statement later, it made me wonder why I would need HER to look into my future? God knows EVERY single step I take and He is there! That is enough to know that everything is going to be "okay"...better than "okay". If I trust her to tell me the truth, why would I even question trusting Him? He is TRUTH! He is completely sufficient. If I (or anyone else) could see the future, we wouldn’t need to trust Him.

I love the line that says, “When the world has broken me down, Your love sets me free.” The world breaks us down all the time. Unmet expectations. Fallen, sinful friends and family. Jobs. Being busy. It tears us down, but He sets us free from the world and all the bondage of it. His love sets us free to live beyond the unmet expectations; to love others through grace…letting them be exactly who God created them to be; to do our jobs unto the Lord; and to glorify Him in our busy lives. We are FREE! We do not live by the “rules” of this world…we are not bound to it! We don’t live by it! We belong to Him! I am not my own! I am here to do what He has called me to do, whether it seems easy or hard…whether I think I can do it, or not. He didn’t ask….He called me to be obedient. So when unexpected turns in life occur, I have to trust that He will never leave or forsake me. Not only will He not leave us, He is our Shelter! He is our Protector, our Provider! He takes care of His children in the good times and the bad! He wants and desires for us to grow…and we grow the most in trials. He wants us to build character and become more like Him. If we go through a trial, and at the end are no more like Him, we went through it for nothing!

He is my heart’s desire! Sometime I get so worried about being obedient that I miss exactly what He is doing. As long as He is the center of my life, He will guide me where I need to be. He has a plan for my life…a plan to touch others lives for Him. It may not be where I expected to go, but its where He’s called me to be FOR HIM!

We have HOPE in Him! We have to trust that He is in control…even when everything around us is falling apart or everything is amazing or something is just in a different package than expected…He is there! His love sets us free to walk with Him and to love others!