Where's Your Hope?

If you are anything like me, disappointment is something you absolutely dread. I mean, I lower my expectations to keep from being disappointed. It doesn't ever work, but I do it anyway. Go figure.

This is not a positive thing. I mean, having a "glass half-empty" view on life to avoid disappointment is not something I'm proud of. And I don't think it is something the Lord desires for me. 

"To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed." (Psalm 22:5)

This verse promises that if my trust and "expectation" is in the Lord, I will NOT be disappointed. What a precious promise! I cling to this verse in my times of doubt and fear. The Lord promises over and over in His Word that if my hope is in Him, I will never be disappointed.

"Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame." (Isaiah 49:23)

"For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."' (Romans 10:11)

These verses do not imply, however, that we will never have disappointment in life. Life will let us down. When that job falls through. The death of a loved one. Rejection from someone you love. Whatever it may be, life is going to hurt. 

When this disappointment comes, where are you going to place your trust?

Will you move on to another silver lining, in hopes that this time it will work out better than last time? 

"This is going to be THE interview."

"She's going to recover."

"This time he's going to love me." 

Or will you cling to something, or Someone, who will not let you down? When the hard things in life begin to hit you, what will you turn to?

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God,

for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." (Psalm 42:5)

I encourage you today to hope in God. Place your trust and hope in Christ. You've got God's promise that you will not be disappointed. That's what I'm going to do. Or at least strive for. It isn't easy...I mean, it's a daily struggle for me. But it's worth it. :)

So I leave you with this:

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord." (Psalm 31:24)

Look To The Sky!

“But godliness with contentment is 

  great gain.” 

1 Timothy 6:6

Contentment. I hate that word. I know that sounds awful, but I’m being honest! When people tell me, “Honey, you just need to be content!” sometimes I just want to knock their chair out from under them! Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating...maybe. ;)

What does the word contentment mean?

Contentment- a state of happiness and satisfaction.

So basically when I am content, then I am satisfied. I am not wanting more, desiring more, or wishing for more. I’m happy with what I have. 

What things in your life make it difficult to be content? Is it not having a boyfriend/husband, thinking that “if I only had my Prince Charming, my life would be a piece of cake!” Or is it wishing you had more money to spend on beautiful clothes that make you feel beautiful...and don’t forget cute accessories! Or perhaps even wishing your had different parents...because Shanaynay’s parents are way cooler and aren’t so strict! Whatever it is in your life that makes the journey towards contentment hard, know this: you aren’t alone. I’m right there with you.

What do I struggle with? Well, as any girl does, I want to be loved by a wonderful man...cherished for the prize that I am. (kidding!) But seriously, what girl doesn’t want a man to love her and appreciate her for who she is, to choose her out of all of the other girls in the world? And I see my calling or “career” from the Word as being a keeper at home, a wife and a mother. And I really really want to be wife and a mother. I am a hopeless romantic, who longs for the day I can fix my sugarbuns a delicious home cooked meal, and have all of my perfectly obedient and orderly children around the table. (So I have high expectations...don’t judge me!) But the reality is, it is not the Lord’s timing for that phase of my life yet. And the fact is, it may never be. God’s plans are not my own.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)

So what’s your point, Johnny Rain Cloud?

Well my point is, that all of us have desires that are not being met at the moment. It can range from hunger to marriage. It doesn’t matter. But what does matter is that the Lord calls us to be content and to shift our focus from earth to heaven.

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

Most of my discontentment problems come as a result of my focus. When I am thinking about what I want and what I desire, my focus in on me. Duh. (I’m a little slow okay?) But in Colossians it tells us to set our minds on the things above. Heavenly things. On the Lord. If we are renewing our minds and keeping them “set” on the Lord and on the things we are to be doing for His kingdom, the little things we want become so small...we may even lose sight of them altogether. I mean, if you think about it, when you’re looking up at the sky...you really can’t see anything else below it. It becomes the entirety of your vision.

But wait! Is it wrong to desire good things? Things like education, marriage or having a family? No. That is not wrong at all. God gives us desires. The problem is when we let those desires shift our focus off of the One who gave them to us in the first place.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

This is one of my favorite verses. One of my dear friends, Brooke, shared a perspective on this verse that I had never thought of. She said that when we are FIRST seeking the Lord and his kingdom, the other stuff will come. It will “be added to you.” And that just really stuck with me. 

Of course this is not saying that we will get everything we want if we seek the Lord! That’s just not the way it works. But the things that God has in store for us and the blessings He wants to reward us with will come as a result of our obedience. And when we are truly seeking Him first, we won’t really care either way. We will be in “a state of happiness and satisfaction.” :)

So I encourage you girls to continue to seek God passionately and strive for contentment. Get in the Word daily. Learn what God wants us to be doing. And just love Him. Really really love Him. I am on this journey with you, and I fall short and lose my focus daily. So know what you are not alone on this walk. :)

And if you need prayer or a listening ear, shoot me an email or facebook me! I love hearing from you!