Hope Does Not Disappoint

QUIET

You pray, you read, you seek repeat… Anyone else been there? You are trying to be diligent in hearing from the Lord, yet it seems He is getting further away, and the silence is becoming deafening.

You know in your mind that you should continue to repeat and continue to dig in even deeper, but in your heart the frustration mounts. The want to read the Bible every day lessens, the want to pray dwindles and slowly but surely your resolve begins to fade. Being replaced with discouragement and disappointment.

Thoughts like what is the point of praying? I am not going to hear anything anyways. I’m so over the “being still”, all the waiting on the Lord scriptures… Maybe you haven’t struggled with this and if that is the case I admire you, but in lieu of being honest these thoughts have all come and gone in my mind and heart.

I wish my next few lines were wisdom on how I overcame this season or a five point plan that helps you hear from the Lord, but that isn’t the case. My reason in writing is only this Romans 5:5 NKJV “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

HOPE

 Circumstances are fleeting, but God is eternal and God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) So we can hope in who we know God is.

Numbers 23:19 NLT “God is not a man, so he does not lie, He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” God is love.

1 John 4:7-8 NLT “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

This love now lives inside of us! I love the visual that His love has been ‘poured out in our hearts’. I am reminded of a time in Hawaii where I swam in a water fall pool. Three streams continuously flowed and poured over the edge. It came with a feeling of refreshment and coolness from the summer sun. Christ’s love for us is the same by washing us clean, lathering us with grace and showering us with goodness.

GIVEN

When it comes to buying gifts I fail quite miserably. We could have been friends for years and I can still draw a blank in thinking about what that person likes. I try to do some research in those situations. Subtly bring it up in conversation, stalk the life out of that particulars friend’s Pinterest and better yet if that friend is married rope in their spouse’s help even then still struggle with a perfect gift. But God is the ultimate gift giver who knows what the best gift is for us, and the best time to give us that gift.

James 1:17NLT “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” And God Himself is good!

Psalms 136:1 NLT “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” His faithfulness and love endures forever. Even when I am frustrated by the silence; thank goodness He endures.

TRUTH

In knowing these truths about the Lord I can know that this season is for good. That even in the silence He has a reason. Because I can be confident in the character of the God I believe in, and in Him I have a hope that does not disappoint. So I didn’t end up with a magical this is why the Lord is quiet with me right now moment, but I was reminded in all thoughts and seasons compare them to truth. To the word of God and when the enemy comes in do not give him a stronghold. I have been humbly reminded by God to continue to dig in anyways and hey, if you have to pick a scripture to give yourself a mini sermon on, do it, it’s actually rather fun!

Trusting Jesus! Proverbs 3:5-6