"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Although I haven't explored my word for the year, hope, often in my blogs, I am blindsided by the realization of how much this word has played a part in 2021. What brings it home is an acronym offered by Greg Laurie of Harvest Ministries, whose daily devotions I subscribe to. Here is what Greg says:
If you're losing hope today, don't give up. I don't know what kind of situation you're in right now, but you're going to get through it. Remember this acronym for hope: holding on with patient expectation.
Wow! Just wow!
The key word here for me is patient. Honestly, I don't like waiting for answers, waiting in line, or anything else that tries my patience.
Yet, in this year of HOPE, my patience for patience has increased ten-fold. It's had to, considering all the circumstances by which I've been tasked and tested. Here are some examples:
- Waiting for the Covid vaccine
- Waiting to see daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John, and the grands over spring break
- Waiting through the long summer weeks of Mom's illness, hoping beyond hope that we can bring her back to her own home in time. Now, thankfully, she is in her forever home with God.
- Waiting for Danny's heart to be healed and whole once again, which it is, praise the Lord!
- Waiting right now for our Thanksgiving journey to spend time once again with Sarah, John and the girls, praying for safe travels and a wonderful, memorable visit.
Sometimes hope is all that is left to cling to. Looking at the way things are it is easy to give in to hopelessness. but the follower of Christ is never in a hopeless situation. Great meditation Martha.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bill, when we have Jesus, there is always hope. Could we even ask for more?
DeleteLove and blessings!
Excellent post. I really cannot add to it. Excellent. Thanx Martha.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I'm so glad to know this post spoke to your heart, Victor.
DeleteLove and blessings!
If there is a single word that we humans universally hate, it is the word "wait."
ReplyDeleteI know, Glynn! Yet, wait we must for so many good things to come.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Amen dear Martha loved these words so encouraging.
ReplyDelete.. as Paul says in Romans 8… against hope he believed in hope speaking of Abraham, who though as good as dead was the Father of many nations.
Who else!?!
This verse I love and also came to mind.
Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the Lord WAIT, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: BLESSED are all they that wait for him.
Thanks for Sharing, God bless and keep you safe, and all those you love, prayer hugs Shaz in Oz.x
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
Meant to put Who else but GOD! .. Fried, tired mind sorry.
DeleteThanks, Shaz, for sharing these verses here that apply to hope and waiting, too. And don't worry - I did get the inference.
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a splendid acronym! Yes, waiting often feels excruciating. I hope these weeks leading to your Thanksgiving reunion are quite the opposite -- filled with joy-full imaginings.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked the acronym, Myra. It is so fitting for the word, HOPE. And I do hope the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving will hurry by, then slow down while we are there.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Patience is not my long suit either. Scripture tells us to put our hope in God for through Him all things are possible. Hugs and blessings
ReplyDeleteI think we all struggle with the patience issue, Nells, some more than others. And truly, with God, all things are possible!
DeleteLove and blessings!
I feel more hope-filled just reading this post, Martha! Your examples of waiting in 2021 brought to mind our own times of waiting, and you are so right: hope is our constant companion every time. Hallelujah! I also couldn't agree with you more that life without hope would be dismal indeed. Praise God for that sturdy three-legged stool of faith, love, and hope!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Nancy, praise God, indeed, for His triune support! Reminds me of the Holy Trinity. :) I'm so glad that this post gave you even more hope to bolster your combatting daily challenges. Encouragement is always what I pray to give to others.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, yes, Martha. Amen!! You have read my posts and how I struggle with patience but God is so very good. I can't imagine doing life without my faith in Jesus and the hope I have for salvation. Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful Thanksgiving coming up (faster than we know!). I am so glad your dear hubby is so much better! God is good. xo
ReplyDeleteYes, Terri, I do know how you have struggled with patience, and I really think it's a manifestation of the human condition overall. But even for us impatient folks, God can give us ways to learn how valuable our willingness to wait for answers can be. Thanks for your wishes for safe travels, too, and praise for Danny's healing. Yes, our God is good!
DeleteLove and blessings!
It seems fortuitous you chose Patience as you word for the year. I would say a God nudge! He has worked in all that has happened to teach you a deeper meaning of the word.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, My Friend!
Actually, Lulu, my word is Hope, but as I've learned, having hope does require lots of patience. It's the proverbial double-edged sword. Never ceases to amaze me how much the word that chooses us grows and changes us so much.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Amen! Our hope is in Him my friend. It is indeed difficult to be patient, but when we wait upon God, He always rewards us with the best blessings.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly does reward us in so many wonderful ways, J. D. Patience is a virtue, but not the easiest to maintain; only with God's help can we manage.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Hi, I really enjoyed reading your post, and hope to read more. thank you so much for sharing this informative blog.
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Thanks, Ratana, for stopping by and reading my blog. Glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Patience certainly isn't one of my virtues.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the current covid-19 situation, hope is all we have left to hold on to.
Happy Wednesday, Martha.
And let's hang onto hope with every fiber of our being, Veronica. We do need it more than ever!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
ReplyDeleteA bit confused with your word 'patient', which means a sick person...
Guess you meant patience or patiently. We all need to practice that a lot more as we seldom have the patience.
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes, I meant patience, Mariette. Thanks for catching this for me; I will correct it.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Boa tarde Martha. Sabemos que todas as coisas cooperam para o bem daqueles que amam a Deus. Ele tem o controle de todas as coisas.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Luiz! God is always in control, and we are not. May we lean on Him for everything.
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings!
patient expectation - what a powerful phrase. I am going to put this in my journal for more prayer and pondering!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful, Jean! Yes, that phrase, as you can see here, really had an impact on me, too.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, this is so well said. You know I love to talk about hope. It's one of my favorite words when thinking about the Christian journey in this life. And we so needed to reflect on our sure hope these past few years and particularly 2021.
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