Get Your Hopes UpSample

DAY 1: START OFF RIGHT

We hear it all the time, from all sorts of people: Chill out. Be realistic. Lower your expectations.

People usually say this when they think you’ve got an idea or plan that’s bigger than it should be. They’re also usually trying to help. But sometimes, we don’t even need this advice because our expectations for the future were never high to begin with.

It’s surprisingly easy to start the year off like this — heart sunk, tank empty. Maybe the past few years weren’t the best and there’s no reason to believe this one will be any different. Maybe you’re anxious or nervous about upcoming tests, decisions, or changes. Maybe you’re sick. Maybe you’re waiting. Maybe you’re sick of waiting.

But Proverbs 23:18 highlights one expectation we can continually cling to: “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (ESV). It doesn’t say we’ll never want to give up, or never feel disappointment, anger, fear, etc. It just says there will be a future and there is always hope.

Here’s another reminder: God will be with you in that future, no matter what it looks like (Isaiah 41:10). He’s the reason we have a future to look forward to, not fear. He’s the reason our hope can never be cut off. And He won’t just walk with you this year — He’s going to work around you and within you.

Time and time again, people in the Bible lowered their expectations because they thought their situation was impossible or beyond help (Genesis 16 and John 5:1-9 are two examples). And time and time again, God showed up and proved them wrong. He’s still the same God today, which means He can still do the same for you.

This year, let’s start off by raising the bar high. Let’s walk into the next 12 months expectant — not that everything will go right or He’ll save us from every hardship, but that He’s going to show up and use us. It’s a new year, but we still serve the same God!

Today, find a quiet, solitary place to spend some time with God. There’s no limit; you can take a few minutes or even a few hours. Talk to Him about your hopes for the year — maybe your fears too — and ask Him to open your eyes to see Him walking with you and moving within your life.