In the WaitingSample

HOPEFUL WAITING

Hope. What do you think of when you hear that word? To hope is having a feeling of expectation and desire for your preferred future. Hope can give buoyancy to situations that feel overwhelming or hard. However, hope is more than a feeling, it is also an action we take to show where our faith lies. We must learn how to make hope an active part of our lives.

So how do you hopefully wait for what comes next? First, we must look at where our hope is rooted-is it rooted in the “something” we really want, or is it rooted in Jesus? When hope exists without faith, its roots are shallow at best. Hope rooted in faith, however, has deeper roots. This hope does not say that we believe we will get all things we desire; it means that we will seek God first and trust that He will hear and give us our heart's desires. Second, we must let ourselves release the grip we have on what our eyes tell us we desire and allow God to be in control. This means releasing our hopes and desires and asking God to match our plan to His plan. It is not easy to do, but it is always worth it! Last, we must walk the walk and talk the talk. If we say our hope is in Jesus, then we have to read His word, pray to Him and make Him the center of all we do. We must relinquish control to our Savior and Lord in order to truly experience Hope.

Ask Yourself:

-Why is placing your hope in Jesus the hardest part of waiting?

-Read Lamentations 3:25. Are you seeking God daily? If not, what is one step you can take to develop a daily habit?

-How is the time spent with Jesus and His Word connected to Hope?

Pause to Pray: Father, help me to place all my hope in you. Allow me to face the areas I want to control and lead me back to you. Set my eyes upon you and your will for my life. Help me to stay tuned to you as I share my hopes with you, Lord. Align my heart with yours! Amen.

Take a Next Step: In Hebrews 11:1, we learn that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Being hopeful can be difficult when your path is going in a different direction than many others around you. You can find yourself wondering, “When will it be my turn?” or “Why not me?”Write down a personal prayer to Jesus about your season of waiting. Make it a cry of hope! Pray it daily this week (and beyond!)