Believe it or not, being hopeful or hope-filled aren’t the same thing.
Max Lucado, in his book, “God Came Near” says, “Hope is not what you’d expect; it is what you’d never dream. It is a wild, improbable tale with a pinch-me-I’m-dreaming ending. Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on God, who loves to surprise us from our soul and be there in the flesh to see our reaction.”
The American Dream
Americans have traditionally been very optimistic people who believe in the American dream. With hard work and opportunity, it’s possible to become whatever we want to be. My grandson is in law school. He’s putting in a lot of hard work to one day be a lawyer.
Being hopeful shows up at sporting events. We cheer like crazy hoping our team wins and the other team loses. And when we fill out an employment application, we hope to get the job.
What are Your Hopes
What do you dream of doing? Is there a career opportunity that moves your family to another city? Is there an illness you didn’t want, but hope to overcome? Do you hope to find caregivers for an elderly parent or spouse? Or is it your hope to make it from one paycheck to another? Many Americans find themselves at this crossroad, where financial stress is real.
How do you push aside worry and keep a positive attitude while facing such uncertainty? Have you thought of what might happen if hope, as you define it, doesn’t show up? How will you act in response?
Hope is Often the First Casualty of Worry
Worry can strip away hope. A recent Gallup survey revealed that optimism about the future has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded. The middle class is being systematically ransacked. Every day more Americans on the bottom half of the economic spectrum are simply giving up. This is the threshold where financial strain becomes behavioral exit. People stop optimizing and start opting out.
U.S. households are 18.8 trillion dollars in debt, the federal government is $38.5 trillion dollars in debt, and the U.S. dollar has been rapidly losing value. We have accumulated the greatest mountain of debt in the history of the world, and there is no easy way out. (Originally published at The Economic Collapse Blog)
Money is a big reason many people to lose hope. And marital problems often follow. Is it possible to get that optimistic attitude back?
Being Hope-Filled Changes Everything
Before we can be hope-filled, we must be convinced, without a doubt, where our hope is found. It won’t be the economy, diplomas on the wall, or social status. There is only One who provides all the hope we will ever need. His name is Jesus. When we know the Lord, He becomes our hope for today and tomorrow, too. He provides for the sparrow, and He promises to provide for His children. Everyone who puts their trust in Jesus, are the children of God.
Discover the Joy of an Intimate Relationship with God
Let prayer take the lead. It’s impossible to know the future; but we can know the One who holds the future. Prayer moves mountains. There is an intimate relationship between our theology and the culture of our time. Often, the two are not in agreement. Which will win the battle?
When we entrust ourselves to the love and care of God, we know for sure we are His. Our Creator loves us with a faithful love. This place of belonging creates the joy of intimacy with God. Peace and blessings will follow.
There is a logical tension between what is a radical situation and the importance of trusting ourselves to God. Faith believes all things are possible because the “Lord of Heaven’s Armies,” will prevail. We will discover a peace the world can never give.
Being hope-filled is to believe nothing, absolutely nothing, even in times of great difficulty, loss, or anxiety, is outside of God’s care. Our God loves His people. Through the redeeming love of Jesus, we are also heirs to the promises.
Prayer
Lord, bring hope where worry is robbing us of this beautiful blessing. Fill us with hope. We trust you to supply our every need as we trust in You. Make us a people who find You enough to satisfy any need we will ever have. Forge that intimate relationship between us. We love you, Lord. Amen
Coaches Corner
Being hope-filled isn’t always easy, or our natural bent. If this defines you, a relationship coach can help you take those steps forward. The first 30-minute session is free. https://www.rebuildingfamilies.net/a-life-coach-wants-to-help-you-achieve-your-goals/
