Hope Keepers

Hope Keepers

Easter, that glorious event when we deepen our faith, renew our hope and embrace our gratitude for what the Lord has done for us, is over. Easter was Sunday. This is Wednesday and like most humans, our hope and good feelings are starting to dim. Life has a way of slowly sapping our joy, our confidence and our hope.

            I’m normally a very optimistic person. The glass is always half full, the sun will come out tomorrow, the clouds have silver linings etc. But I’m coming out of a season where medical issues have drastically changed my way of life. Thankfully, nothing was life threatening and all the issues have been fixed, but the recovery time is slow and frustrating. Some days I take three steps forward only to take two backwards the next. It’s easy to get discouraged.

            Over the years I’ve collected many encouraging poems, essays, and quotes that help me remember that hope is always there and to hold tight to my faith. I keep them close by as daily reminders. I’ve collected some to share in the hope that they might encourage you too.

So, who is responsible for our joy falling away so quickly? Could it be….

Satan’s Plan -

Doubt – Makes you question God’s Word and his goodness.

Discouragement – Makes you look at your problems rather than at God.

Diversion – Makes the wrong things seem attractive so that you will want them more than the right things.

Defeat – Makes you feel like a failure so that you don’t even try.

Delay- Makes you put off doing something so that it never gets done.

Things to remember-

In the Bible Jacob was dishonest, Peter had a temper, David committed adultery, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zacchaeus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. Now what's your excuse? God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called! God is still working in your life.

Sometimes I need to be reminded that God has a bigger plan beyond my own. This helps me remember.

And God Said “No”

            I asked God to take away my grief, And God said, “No”.

He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to work through.

            I asked God to make my broken heart whole, And God said “No”.

He said your spirit is whole, your pain is only temporary.

            I asked God to grant me patience, and God said “No”.

He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn’t granted, it’s earned.

            I asked God to give me happiness, and God said “No”.

He said He gives blessings. Happiness is up to me.

            I asked God to spare me pain, and God said “No”.

He said “Suffering draws you apart from worldly care and brings you closer to me.”

            I asked God to make my spirit grow, and  God said “No”.

He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

            I asked God is He loves me, and God said “Yes”.

He gave His only Son who died for me, and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

            I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me,

And God said,

“Ah, finally, you have the idea.”

This quote isn’t scriptural but it opened my eyes and changed the way I look at things.

 “My fears were like a thundering herd of elephants. Then when I got them out and looked at them, I saw they were really mice with megaphones.”  Dr. Bruce Rahtjen

So hold tight to your hope and Just for Today, keep these thoughts in mind:

Make up your mind to be happy,

Accept life’s irritations.

Care for your body.

Exercise your mind.

Do something kind for someone in secret,

and do two things you do not want to do.

Smile, and be positive and pleasant.

Work on today – not the problems of tomorrow.

Work on some goal or plan.

Have a quiet time.

Praise the Lord, and do not be afraid.

I hope these might encourage you in some way.

God Bless. Happy reading. Thanks for stopping by.

Lorraine