Intentional Hope

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hope is a tangible resource, a substance.

Hope is not a feeling.

Hope is not pie in the sky, “everything‘s gonna be wonderful.”

I can have hope and still cry my eyes out because I’m sad about the present situation. It doesn’t mean I don’t trust the Lord for the future, especially when I’m facing the opposite of my hope. It means I’m human.

But I can’t stay there.

What takes real discipline and work - and what I need in order to move forward - is to align my emotions with my expressed hope. It’s wicked hard people. I’m deep in it. But nothing has the power to move me towards hope like dancing when I feel like weeping.

Despair. Discouragement. Negativity. Offense. Pride. These are deceptive enemies that feed my corrupt pain-impacted sense of justice, pulling the focus away from hope, and deeper into a black hole of self-destruction.

The solution? Feed on hope. Remember the hope, the dream, the goal, and the journey.

Resurrect thoughts and memories of small successes, victories, and breakthroughs.

Change physical locations. Go for a walk.

Turn up your favorite song LOUD and dance like you mean it.

Read inspirational stories.

Remember God’s promises.

I hope this helps anyone struggling, like me. You’re not alone. Hugs.

“.... let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope; and this hope does not let us down, because God’s love for us has already been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

U.P. Trail