Where Is Your Hope?
Where is your hope? When you are going through a difficult time, where do you turn for help?
I can tell you that I’ve gone through seasons of tremendous upheaval. I never imagined that my life would change so drastically. I thought my life was set. I had worked hard in my nursing career for 25 years. I retired and devoted my time to my family, home and volunteering to teach little children in an international Bible study organization. I lived in my dream home. I had meticulously thought out all the details and they had come to pass. Life wasn’t perfect but I was living my dream.
But life happens. Sometimes it’s our own fault but other times it may not be anything we did to deserve it. Life happens.
What’s most important is your response to the difficulties that will inevitably come your way at some point in your life. Where do you turn? Where do you place your hope to get through these times of uncertainty and upheaval?
I wish I could say that I immediately turned to the Lord. Yes, I prayed much. But I had my emotional response too. I tried to fix things in my own way. But nothing seemed to work.
I realized that I had two choices:
- I could react to my circumstances.
- I could trust God and rely on the Truth of His Word.
Eventually, I came to the point of trusting God. I can tell you that I learned so much as I walked through the valleys. I learned that God has a plan and a purpose, even in the midst of pain and turmoil. I have learned to rely on Him.
Where am I now?
I am no longer living in my dream home. I had to return to full time work in a field that was not nursing. I now live with my husband in a very small condo.
But I look at what I gained:
- A closer walk with the Lord
- An opportunity to work with children
- A smaller place to clean each week
- A next door neighbor who loves the Lord
- A greater trust in God as nothing is impossible with Him
Where is my hope? My hope is in the Lord. As I look back over the last few years, I see Him at work. Even now there are ongoing challenges. But I choose to respond with hope. That hope is not in myself but in the God who loves me. He alone is trustworthy.
When life circumstances overwhelm you, where is your hope?
Blessings and love,
What a beautiful post! I have seen times in my life where God has lovingly disciplined me by letting me feel the consequences of my own actions. Trusting in and turning to Him never returns void. And it’s only through Him that we can see the beauty in the ashes. Beautiful post Friend!
Amen to that Kim! Only through Him can we see beauty in the ashes.
I like the sentence toward the end of your post; “But I choose to respond with hope.” I really all comes down to a choice doesn’t it. We can choose to be angry and sad or we can choose to respond with hope in Jesus Christ. There is no greater hope than Jesus. There is a song that says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.” Jesus is where my trust and hope is too.
Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your life and such great words of wisdom that you’ve learned in the hard times. May God continue to bless you.
I love that hymn you quoted. And yes, I agree. There’s nothing like going through hard times to see how you choose to respond. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
My hope is in the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! Beautiful words of truth, sweet Debbie. When life happens and our world is turned upside down, it’s then that we see the Lord at every turn, changing and working all things together for our good and His great glory.
Love & Prayers~
Yes Sandy as we both have learned through the challenges in our lives. He does work it all together for our good.
Debbie,
Not only do you write beautiful words of encouragement, your life is a model for all of us to follow. Your sweet spirit in the midst of the trials has been a great lesson for me and for others.
May our Lord Bless you in every way possible.
Ah Anna May you are so sweet. Thank you for leaving your comment. You know I love you my friend. And thank you for being there for me. Your friendship has meant so much to me.
I’m with you–my hope is in the Lord.
Late yesterday I received the devotional book that you told me about. I did a lesson last night and one this morning. I love it.
I had done mine own Bible studies for so many years but was just needing some true direction and feel like this was the ONE I was supposed to do at this point in time.
Thanks, dear Debbie.
Love you,
Dianne
I’m so glad Dianne. Now we can compare all we’re learning. I love that.
Wonderful post.
Thanks Denise.
Like you said, Debbie: life happens. Yes, we have dreams and thoughts on how our life should go.
Thank you for the reminder that our hope is in the Lord and that He is willing to see us through the valleys is we let Him.
Iris, I was so blessed this morning as I listened to the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir sing “My Help Comes From the Lord” based on Psalm 121.
I admire the way you with the help of God has handled obstacles and loss to triumph and and better quality of life, a life close to God.
Where I turn to for help??
To God. I can witness that he’s there, hiding treasures on dark places.
My biggest sorrow is that I kind of need God less, when my fears are over won. I need to walk close with God all the time.
My grandmother used to say, “It takes a strong back to carry good days.”
Yes Felisol it can be all too easy to not depend on Him when life becomes easier. But we do need His help all the time; good and bad.
Beautiful post, I know how hard it is to always keep your hope in God when things go wrong or times get tough. Sometimes we think we are smart enough to figure things out….wrong. Always working on keeping my hope in God.
Leslie, I’ve tried too many times to do things on my own. It never works out. I’ve learned to trust the Lord in ALL things.