Trekking to Hope

I am passionate about hope. Perhaps it’s the little girl romantic notion in my heart still, but I believe it has been grown into more than childhood fantasies. For me, hope has become a banner I wave in the face of anxiety or pierce unhappiness with. Tucked in my heart is a stirred desire for me to pass along my experience of a hopeFULL heart to those in need a hug. To those who cannot remember when they smiled the last time, or find themselves full of fear and anxiety, or perhaps it’s the one who has been full of hope at one time, but their hope has depleted through all the years of praying the same prayer.

I understand.

Though my story may be different than yours, I understand to well what happens when illuminated hope is diminished by circumstances.

You want to know a secret that I found? You can have your hope back again and brighter than ever in ALL circumstances. My friend, trust me when I say your pain is worth reward.

We each have our own wounds from our story. They are as unique as our fingerprints. The only one who can know the secret to unlock our hearts hope again is the Creator of our heart. He knows exactly where to apply His love and mend our disappointments. By His name, power is given to us to break chains that bind us to fallacies. We get spun into a web of lies making agreements with an enemy who is out to destroy us. He robs us of our hope, he steals our peace.

But you can have it all back. You will need your walking shoes to get it, because to get your hope back you will go on a journey of many kinds. There will be exuberance on this trip and there will be alters made where tears are shed. You will be pursued by dismay and grief, but comfort, patience and strength keep your path straight. There will be encounters and encouragement throughout the excursion, but what I believe is the highlight of this trip is when you get to the bend in the road where you just buckle and drop to your knees. You cannot go on, so you look up for help and on the horizon a light crests.

That’s where you realize this long, turbulent, and confusing at times journey was indeed the purpose all along. The words “… we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” seep into our soul. The seed of hope that was planted long ago breaks the surface and new life stretches toward the light. You recall the hurt and how you learned to forgive. The sleepless nights are seen as proving grounds where your faith was tested and produced. The scars from these battles molded you to a beautiful testimony of grace, mercy and love. You laugh because for the first time in a long time, you feel like shouting from the rooftops you are more than a survivor – you are a conqueror!

Rise strong and courageously. I pray you overflow with hope every day.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13