If you are like me, regardless of the many scriptures telling us why we should hope, where our hope should be, the benefits of hope in God, there is still something in our heart and mind that are resistant to hope.
So, I want to throw out four tangible reasons we may be resisting hope. I’ve gathered these from my own journey with hope. I’m sure there are more, but this is a start
- Past Disappointments. Disappointment is real and painful, and we go to great links to avoid pain. I talk about the realities of disappointments on Day 6 and about the discontentment of hope Day 8. Click the days to read more.
- False Hopes. This often goes hand and hand with disappointment. False hope is when we place our trust in something moveable, changeable, perishable. When we anchor into moveable things, it creates insecurity in our lives. Our hope and trust belong to the unmovable, unchanging, Everlasting One. There is no falsehood in him.
- Pride. I know, I know. Who likes to talk about pride. But it’s real, and it keeps us from hoping in God. There is a willingness, a trusting, a surrender that comes with hope. Pride is isolating. It suggests (demands) I can do this by myself, I don’t need you, and I’m in control. There is no room for hope when pride puffs up.
- The Veruca Salt Syndrome. Remember the bratty girl and the golden eggs from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? “I don’t care how I want it now!” How many times have I said something similar to the Lord, yikes! We have to disagree with the now or never mentality the world often champions. Hope is slow, friends. Something is being produced in us as we hope, as we wait, as we endure with the Lord.
If any of these are familiar to you, I want to encourage you to ask the Lord about them. He LOVES it when we come to him with our cares.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
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Brave Sparrow 