Category: Encouragement

“…as those who have no hope.”

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1 These 4:13

On earth, grief, sorrow, & tribulation are guaranteed and certain.  Sometimes the grief can be overwhelming and suffocating.  It can feel hopeless and endless.  In light of that, these words have been echoing in my heart…

our hope is not anchored in the absence of pain but rather
in the promise of His presence amidst the pain. 

The sorrow I have experienced is only a drop in the ocean of the suffering that is all around, but I know God is growing me for what He has prepared for my future.  This season is necessary & nothing is wasted or without purpose.  Not a single thing you or I walk through is insignificant & not a single tear is useless.

Much of the teaching we hear is rooted in the hope of our own desire being accomplished.  We hope in ourselves or in a better outcome because God is powerful enough to change our circumstance. But is that His will? Our personal success? Recognition? Deliverance? Comfort? I don’t believe so.  The end Jesus seeks is that we enter into a deeper knowledge, intimacy, and love for Him. When deliverance doesn’t come how you expected you will learn to seek Him. When I’ve been left disappointed in the past, the root cause is because my hope was in something not made to hold the weight of my expectation, something temporary, that was bound to fail, & my eyes were not on Jesus. Jesus: who doesn’t change; yesterday, today, forever.  He is the same.  Only He Himself can fulfill every hope and expectation that He made my heart for.

Do not let anyone tell you that the absence or presence of grief dictates God’s goodness. When we equate God’s goodness to receiving a desired outcome we begin to believe His goodness has stopped until we get what we expected.  No matter what is causing your heart to grieve, do not be mistaken that He is far, unattached or negligent of your suffering.  It is ok to grieve, it does not need to all make sense, your life doesn’t have to be picture perfect, and it’s ok to admit that it is HARD.  But don’t let your heart forget: we do not grieve as those who have no hope ♥️  He grieves with you and His heart breaks with yours.  He is oh so near & that is Christmas: God with us, the long expected One, Hope fulfilled, Jesus near, Him humbling Himself to step into our sorrow. He is here.

No matter what I walk through, He is my deliverance and all He does is rooted in His goodness, even if it’s not what I expect.

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!” -Psalm 34:8

“I want to be brave enough to hold out the hope of the gospel to a world that is hurting, alone and afraid. Not a hope rooted in the absence of pain, heartache or suffering. Not optimism that looks for the best-case scenario or happy ending. A true hope that rises from the full assurance that our Savior is here.” -Katie Davis

Stories

“looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:2 

We each have a story. We could fill pages with the lessons we have (and have not) learned and as time passes our chapters may be filled with more heartbreak, unexpected cliff hangers or endings than we ever could’ve predicted.

For me, there was a way I expected my life to go, a general “order” of events, but deep down I knew that I shouldn’t have any expectations because I would be setting myself up for disappointment.  Subconsciously though, I had a “plan” and projected my hopes and dreams into the future.

After graduating High School I remember my world feeling wide open, I felt like I didn’t have any clear direction and one by one Jesus showed me that I needed to let go of my expectations.  I knew my life was in God’s hands and I needed Him to guide me, I couldn’t depend on my parents or my feelings —I had to walk in faith and trust God that no matter what lay ahead He was ordering my steps. (Prov. 16:9, Psalm 37:23) The verse and lyrics at the bottom of this post became my comfort and song.

Now I’m almost 23 and I look back at the time since I graduated High School and some seriously heart-breaking, disappointing things have happened. But God has never disappointed me.  He has been with me and strengthened me in each changing season.  As I sit here things have happened (and not happened) that a 16 year old me never would have never foreseen. Amazing, beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime things have also happened that I wouldn’t have thought to imagine for myself in my wildest dreams.  And what leaves me in awe is that God did it. He knew (and still knows!) every desire in my heart and in His perfect timing He will fulfill them.  I’ve learned that the deepest need and desire of my heart is Himself.  When I place my expectation in Him my heart is at rest, free to trust and depend on my loving Father.

He knows your heart, the dreams your child-like heart dreams, and the hopes you have for the future.  He knows.  He’s a good Father and only gives good gifts to His children—He gave us Himself.

What word has been written into your story that you never would’ve chosen for yourself? Childless, single, jobless, homeless, lonely, displaced, betrayed, divorced, sick, bankrupt, orphaned, fatherless, hungry?  …No matter where you are in your story, surrender it to Him.  He is the Restorer and Redeemer of hearts.  When your story is not going as you expected, remember that it’s not the end. There will be pages of loss, discomfort, suffering, heart-break, and grief—look to Him for strength, wisdom, and guidance in the trial.  Stop worrying about what will come next, living in disappointment, or coveting someone else’s journey.  Place your expectation in Jesus and watch as He works wonders in you-beyond anything you could ever think or imagine, His ways and thoughts are higher.  In the end, when you look back, you’ll realize that even when you couldn’t see it His purpose, grace, and sovereignty was written on every page.

Trust His loving hand that wrote your story into the pages of time.  Before you were ever a thought in any human’s mind — you were in His.

 

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14

All of my life, in every season
You are still God,
I have a reason to sing.
I have a reason to worship.
– “Desert Song” by Hillsong

Remember

The kindness of Jesus is overwhelming. He never allowed the disdain and cynicism of others affect His heart towards them; and He did not try to retaliate or fight against those who betrayed, hated and wanted to kill Him.

1 Corinthians 11:23 says:

“on the night when He was betrayed took bread,
and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said,
‘This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’”

Amidst betrayal, contention, deep hurt and agony over the pain that was before Him —Jesus demonstrated love. On the nigh He was betrayed He served by washing His disciples’ feet and giving them communion, a symbol of how He would sacrifice His life on the cross for them. He gave thanks and He said “this is My body which is for you.”  He was not thinking of Himself, He was serving others.

Throughout His ministry Jesus’ disciples were confused when He would say: ‘My hour has not yet come’ or ‘the Son of Man will be betrayed but on the third day will rise again.’  But Jesus knew His disciples would look back at this night, remember Jesus’ example, His death and His resurrection and it would finally make sense.  The disciples would finally understand that the purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry was to bring salvation, peace, and reconciliation to lost and hurting people who were in need of a Savior.

And all Jesus asks is that they remember Him.

Simply remember.  And He asks me to do the same.  It is easy for me to forget and become busy in my daily routine, waste time scrolling through social media, so consumed with the noise that I become restless and can no longer rest in the stillness…  and when I find myself discouraged, backsliding, or doubtful it means that I have forgotten Him: who He is and all that He means to me.  I need to remember: His kindness, faithfulness and compassion; all the ways He’s provided and cared for Me.  I must be watchful and careful to not be distracted but instead to fix my eyes on Him

On a night that was confusing and chaotic to His disciples and onlookers, when it seemed as though evil had won and injustice had the final word, God’s purpose was being fulfilled and Jesus had His eyes on His Father, submitting to His will.  When you cannot make sense of all that is going on around you—look to Jesus, remember Him, and rest knowing that He is in control and His purpose is being accomplished even when all else seems contrary.

Oh what a Savior! Isn’t He wonderful!?
– “Come to the Altar”  by Elevation Worship

Help me to love with open arms like You do
A love that erases all the lines and sees the truth
Oh that when they look in my eyes they would see You…
You’re wonderful and such a good Father
– “For the One”  by Bethel

Loved.

“We love because He first loved us.”

– 1 John 4:19

There’s something captivating about watching a child react to and experience life.  The way they freely dance, sing, laugh, and cry without a worry of who is watching or what others are thinking.  There’s purity and innocence in the way they love and interact with others.  Do you remember feeling that way?  Do you remember when that changed?

I remember: suddenly worrying about what others were thinking, realizing what they were wearing, how they were acting, and the attention they were getting. I realized life isn’t as simple as I once imagined, not all people are kind and their words do not all come with good intentions.  I felt insecure for the first time; like I was not enough and had to change to be accepted and worth knowing.  Looking back I realize how vulnerable I was because I didn’t personally know the security of Jesus’ love.

I remember feeling lonely and left out, young and unsure of who I was; thinking: “If only I was smarter, prettier, funnier, cooler, more likable…” If you are thinking like that today God is pursuing you and wants you to know that you are precious in His eyes and He bottles every tear you cry (Psalm 56:8). He is not like those who have hurt you, abandoned you, or made you feel unaccepted and unloved.  This is not the superficial love we hear about in songs or see portrayed in movies.

You are valued and loved with an unchanging, faithful, grounding love; so powerful that His voice spoke the world into existence and with the same breath created you.

I wish you would walk so closely with this Love that it effects every word you say, the places you go, the way you treat others and view yourself.  You do not have to worry about being loved and accepted, because you already are.  Concern yourself and occupy your mind with the thoughts Jesus has towards you. Place your confidence in Him, not in others’ ever-changing opinions.  Don’t let others define who you’re supposed to be or how you’re supposed to look and act.

Today I pray that you settle in your soul to believe who God says you are; don’t change and try to fit in. The world says we need to love ourselves while our real need is to know that we are loved.  Like a child that so confidently trusts in their parents’ love; we can rest confident and secure in Jesus’ love for us.

“You are not an afterthought.
Love Himself dreamed you up.”
❤️
-“Diamonds” by Taylor Leonhardt