Advent with Pressed Olives: Day 7

Advent Day 7

HOPE

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

The Oxford dictionary defines hope as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust. 

Trust is defined by the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Hope and trust can be easy thing's to loose, there are so many distractions in our daily lives. Distractions take your focus off what is important.

Christmas is my favorite time of year, well let me clarity, it's my favorite holiday (I really don’t like the cold). I love getting together with family and celebrating the birth of Jesus. It’s also a time of reflection of the past year.

I have a choice when looking back. I can choose to look back and find the things that are getting better or I can see what still hasn’t changed.

The Bible talks about looking back.

But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26 NKJV

But that’s not the kind of looking back I’m talking about, she looked back with longing, she was told not to look back and she disobeyed.

I’m talking about looking back for a different reason, to find hope.

I know that sounds strange and I can understand how that sounds. For me this year has been difficult. When things don’t go the way you think they should it’s easy to loose hope. One way to battle that is to look back and focus on the things that did go well over the past year, to count your blessings.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

Another other way to battle hopelessness is to remember who has you. This verse tells us that God had a plan for our lives regardless of our current circumstances. He will work through our situation to give us a future if we will let Him. 

That’s another part of the equation, we have to trust God to move in our situation. We have to trust that he has a plan and it will work for our good. 

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

What are you hoping for? Is this something you have been waiting on for a while? Do you trust that God is working in that situation?

Jesus, when darkness surrounds me, please fill my heart with hope and remind me of your unwavering love. Even in the midst of uncertainty help me to trust in your promises and find strength in your presence. When I get discouraged and lose sight of all I have to be grateful for, help me to call out to You in thankfulness and praise.

In Jesus name, Amen.