What is it about the Christmas season that seems to help “fuel” our hope?
How the story of Jesus reminds us of the hope that we get to have, no matter what...
Honestly, at times I’ve wondered if I “hope” too much…
At times I’ve wondered if I “get my hopes up” too much, like a “naive” little child.
But I think God wants us to always, always get our hopes up in Him.
And we always, always can. ☀️
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11
We may not understand His ways, we may not understand the twists and turns He has us take in the journey…we may not understand why He takes us through hard times…through pain…through times of disappointment that things didn’t turn out the way we thought they should…
But He will never let us down. No matter how things may seem to us.
He knows what He’s doing, He knows what He’s allowing, and what He’s not going to allow, and for good reason.
I was led to my journal from last year around this time…
It’s my journal that has the almond branch/blossom design on the cover.
On 12/14/2019 I wrote these words in my journal…
“Sometimes God leaves us in the mess we are in, and He sits with us, and sometimes He lifts us up, picks us up, and gets us outta there…”
In the particular situation I was writing about, I wrote that I felt like the Lord did pick us up out of a hard, impossible place, and He delivered us in a miraculous way. “How did we get through that? How did we end up where we are? It could only be ALL Him.” ?
I’m not sure what God has planned for us concerning the situation our country is in right now… who really does?
Because we only see in part. ☀️
I’m not sure if God is going to “get us out of this mess” and turn things around for our nation, or if He is going to be with us in the mess, in the darkness, and give us the light to shine brightly in the dark darkness, while we must endure a little while longer…
But I do know that God has good things up His sleeves…
And I do know that either way…
He is with us, no matter what comes our way.
And no matter what, we can always “get our hopes up” in Him!
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”
13 And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?”
And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.”
14 Then the Lord said to me:
“Out of the north calamity shall break forth
On all the inhabitants of the land.
15 For behold, I am calling
All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the Lord;
“They shall come and each one set his throne
At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
Against all its walls all around,
And against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will utter My judgments
Against them concerning all their wickedness,
Because they have forsaken Me,
Burned incense to other gods,
And worshiped the works of their own hands.17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise,
And speak to them all that I command you.
Do not be dismayed before their faces,
Lest I dismay you before them.
18 For behold, I have made you this day
A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land—
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
Jeremiah had to endure through some dark times, but God promised that He would be with Jeremiah, and that He would deliver him.
Father, my prayer is, Your will be done! My prayer is, Your perfect plan be done! My prayer is, whatever is on Your heart to do, may it be done, and let none of us get in the way of the way You plan to carry it all out. May we come into alignment with Your will and Your way.
I don’t know what Your plan looks like, right now, Lord, but I know You, and I know that I can trust You to unfold it perfectly for those who love You.
And I know that I can trust You to be with me, always.
And I know, that in You, we already have the victory!
I will keep “getting my hopes up” in You, Lord Jesus!
Thank You, Father! ?
“O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.”—Psalm 130:7
“In God We Trust”
-Heather ?