#630 Sat. Feb. 18/17, 7:10am, at home (Hope in the Lord)
Let Hope fill your heart this day.
Not in a futile sense of hope.
Not said with a sad and drooping spirit, but rather “I Hope in the Lord”.
You see, when we hope it will be sunny, or that the snow will stop, or that maybe we win the lotto, we really have not put all our hope in God.
We hope in finite things over which we have no control.
Yet when we hope in God we put all of our limited being into His Unlimited Being.
And when we do this we cannot be disappointed.
We get disappointed when we hope for something over which we have no control.
We do not get disappointed when we place all our Hope in the Lord because part of hoping in Him expresses the fact that, WHATEVER He decides, is right and proper and is never meant to disappoint.
I can plant tulip bulbs in the fall and hope that they all bloom in the spring.
Or, I can plant tulip bulbs in the fall --- grateful I have them, and grateful I have the strength and energy to plant them or grateful that someone else plants them for me. And be delighted in the spring if any, some or all bloom.
I have put my hope in the Lord that they will bloom and will not be discouraged if they don’t.
I will be delighted if they bloom, but will not let discouragement enter my soul if they don’t. Because I have put my hope in the Lord that all will turn out as He Wills.
Do you see the difference?
I hope you do because it will release your soul from having to take on and live in discouragement.
We might say “It can’t get to spring soon enough” especially if the winter has been long and hard.
Is that just a casual comment that does not inflict itself on the tenderness of your soul?
Or is it said in frustration and anger and upset and more frustration?
If so, then you are not living in the hope of the Lord.
You really are not really living with any joy or hope in the present are you.
When we wish things away “I wish spring were here”, “I wish the flowers did not have to die off”, “I wish the beautiful sunset would last forever”, we really are not living in the present, nor even in true reality.
Let us all place our hope in the Lord who made heaven and earth and all that is seen and unseen.
When we do this, we are bound to live in the present with all its ups and downs which can’t discourage us if we have placed all hope in the Lord. Because all that the Lord does is GOOD.
So start each day telling the Lord that you place all your hope in Him.
I trust Lord that You are in charge of this very day.
I trust Lord that whatever comes is wrapped in Your Love for me.
I trust Lord that you will give me the Grace to meet each situation, not in disappointment, but in ever increasing trust in Your ever present Love.
Lord, I hope in You, I hold fast to You, I thank You for the Graces you will pour over me this day.
Go in Peace. If you hope in Me, you will go in Peace.
