Tag Archives: overwhelmed with hope

Hope

There’s More Ahead

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One of the reasons I like hiking so much is because you know as you move along a trail there’s more ahead.  It makes me hope for the next bend in the trail. Recently I hiked with my niece Tasha in Phoenix, Arizona.  We traversed smooth, sandy paths and sharp-edged trails. We even climbed over 4′ boulders on our way to the summit of a mountain.   Sometimes a curve on the mountain trail displayed a vista view of the valley below.  Other times we’d see ‘The World’s Tallest Cactus,’ (in my opinion), or  the dramatic incline of the trail ahead.  Continually, we relished in the anticipation of seeing something amazing.

The Wise Men of old must have felt the same way.  They knew there was more ahead. Seeing the star in the east and hearing about a baby that would be King of the Jews, they went in search of Him.  Indeed,  “…they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (Matthew 2:9-10, ESV) 

We also have hope of more to come.  Although the world is in a turbulent state, we have the assurance of another world that looks quite different. The weeks leading up to Christmas are a good reminder that everything changed when love entered the world at Jesus’ birth.  So this Advent season, may we be blessed with abundant hope. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NASB)

Things to do today:

  1. Reflect on the real gift of Christmas: Jesus coming into the world.
  2. Listen to this song: Hope in Front of Me (Danney Gokey) 

 

Brighter Days Ahead

Become Overwhelmed

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Become overcome by sunrise over beach.
Become overcome by sunrise over beach.

If I think too much about what’s in the news, I could become overwhelmed.  It’s filled with stories of violence, hatred, and fear.  We are inundated with a sense of hopelessness and problems too big to turn around.  The radio speaks of crime, corruption, and the threat of war.  Yet when I look out my window, I see neighbors mowing the lawn of the elderly.  I pass a friend helping to catch a puppy who has decided to play in the middle of the street.  My Facebook feed shows friends at the county fair, beautiful smiling babies, and the (sometimes) excited faces of kids’ first day of school.  It’s two sides of a coin really.  We can become overwhelmed with negativity, or we can become overwhelmed with hope.

God wants to overwhelm us with hope.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)  We see his plans all around us.  It’s in the life of a young missionary who boarded a plane for Nepal immediately after the earthquakes.  Why?  She wanted to overwhelm the Nepali with hope.  What about churches coming together in Norwalk, Ohio to provide schoolkids with free backpacks, shoes, and socks for the upcoming school year?   What about the Salvation Army that quietly serves free meals to kids all summer long?  Despite what I see on the 6:00 news, I will focus on these stories.  “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:21-23 NLT)

There are countless stories that won’t make national headlines.  We need to focus on these ones.  So I ask you, what causes you to become overwhelmed with hope?