Day 2: What is Your Hope In?

Yesterday was a pretty frustrating day for me.  I felt hopeless, ironically....after sharing with you about some huge answers to prayer for Hope Academy.  I went through my day experiencing disappointment after disappointment.  I really was just disappointed with myself.  It seemed like I was always behind, even though I tried so hard to be on top of it.  For those of you who know me well, this has been the story of my life.  I started out late because I couldn't figure how to download the newsletter onto my blog, so I felt dumb.  Then I was late to several appointments....so I felt anxious about disappointing the people I was meeting.  Then, as I was picking up the kids from school, I was complaining to one of my friends about figuring out what to make for dinner and if we just didn't have to eat, that would relieve half of my stress....to which my daughter (the one who is the opposite of me in so many ways)  says, "well if you planned a menu, then it wouldn't be as stressful because you would have a plan for what you're going to make that day...."  I know that what she said is true...it would be easier, but planning does not come naturally for me, nor is it easy for me.  So I was hurt and frustrated with myself about that...then, as kids are loaded in the car and I'm backing out to leave the school playground, I backed into a wooden post (I have no idea why these posts are necessary???), denting the bumper of our "new" car.  Oh, I hated myself then....Grrrrr

Then later, at home, while I was fixing dinner, a dear friend sent me a text that was so simple, but the Spirit used it to focus me back.  It just said: "Hope. Praying you know the hope..and for the kids to know it to."  She was referring to the kids at Hope Academy.  The Spirit convicted me that I had been putting my hope in myself all day: to get it right, to not disappoint, to get to places on time, to be a better planner, to get myself together.... The Spirit brought me back to the truth in Psalm 131.  Those 3 short verses talk about not being prideful (feeling bad about yourself is prideful, by the way, because we are focused on ourselves), and not concerning ourselves with great matters, but instead, calming oneself and quieting one's ambitions...like a weaned child, I am content.   Putting my hope in myself to get things right just left me miserable.  God was calling me to put my hope in Him, to be "enlightened to know the hope to which He is calling me..." (Eph. 1:18).   Like a weaned child still needs its mother to feed him, but is content, trusting that it will be taken care of, so I can be content, hoping in the Lord to give me what I need and direct me in what He has for me to do....Living in the hope that He can use me the way that I am....the way He knit me together, in His image.  Trust...hope...contentment

What are you putting your hope in?  If you find yourself angry, anxious or discontent, then your hope is not in the Lord!  Sometimes it's a minute by minute decision to put our hope in God.  Look to His truth, His promises about who He says He is and what He says He's going to do. 

Pray for the students of Hope Academy to find this hope in the Lord.  Not all of them have accepted Christ.  Pray that the seeds of hope would be planted deep in their soul, that the soil would be rich, that these seeds would grow and the roots would go deep!