overflowing hope

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Hope:

·      A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen

·      A person or thing that may help or save someone

My child,

I am the God of hope. As you place your hope in me, I will fill you with peace and joy. The hope I give is supernatural, imperishable, and empowered by my Spirit.

Your days now are filled with uncertainty and grief at the ways this epidemic is stealing life as you know it. Put your hope in me. I am the only one who can bring beauty from ashes, joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Put your hope in the certainty that I will provide you with every spiritual blessing as you thrive in my presence. I will sustain you with my grace gifts – my love, peace, goodness and joy. My beauty, strength, endurance and faithfulness. My power, mercy, wisdom and compassion.

My provision is flawless and endless. Saturate your heart and mind with the truth of who I am. That will build your hope in me, even if, everything around you collapses.

I love you,

Abba

My Abba,

Thank you for nourishing me with your truth. I don’t do anything well when I am famished. Please feed me this morning so that I can face the day well nourished by your Spirit.

These definitions of hope really challenge me to think about in what, or in whom, I put my hope. Am I inspired to endure by my hope in you? Or, do I simply have a “desire for a certain thing to happen?” Am I putting my hope in you or in a certain outcome?

Honestly, I think my answer is both. There are definitely things I hope will happen. I hope this relentless plague will be defeated soon. I hope you will ease this suffering that is wounding our world. In the fierce wake of tragedy, I hope those affected will be restored spiritually, emotionally and physically.

With that said, good outcomes are not my God. You are my God. Great circumstances are not my Savior. You are my Savior. I hope for good things to happen. But I refuse to worship those good things.

Worshiping anyone or anything other than you is eventually followed by the sound of my idols smashing against the rocks of my misplaced expectations.

I want to experience your love more deeply. I want to place my hope in you and what is paramount to you.

When I choose you and life is still hard, I can draw a deeper breath of your glorious presence and live. I never feel more alive than in those moments - living in your love, comforted and carried by your eternal, infinite provision.

As you walk with me through this season, your love is building new beauty in my bruised heart. Thank you for creating in my life another supernatural monument to your glory.

I love you,

Mollie

mollie@mollieaxtell.com

Photo: Tomas