Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:5
Whew! That scripture slapped me in the face quite a few times on this healing journey. Yes I said a few times, you'd think I would have learned my lesson the first time. But losing hope is rarely instant, it sneaks up on you and often disguises itself as reality.
Reality can paint a picture so well that you think you are being realistic, or relying on common sense. But I've searched and googled a few times and have yet to find a scripture that supports us being realistic or relying on common sense. Even common sense is derived from somewhere, and if it's not from God then it can not be a source of truth for the believer.
Early on, I found myself getting frustrated in the wait. The wait for a spouse, the wait for happiness, the wait for business success, etc. Nothing seemed to be coming fast enough, and everytime I questioned it or God it seems another thing to heal from popped up. I started to despise my healing process.
I learned that what I was hoping for could not sustain me. I was looking for a reward for my healing and gains to make others like me rather than embracing joy right where God had me. Our hope should be in knowing that where ever we are God is right there with us. Whatever we find our hands to do, God will bless it because we are in His will. Whatever storms we face are only temporary. Whatever problem we have, Holy Spirit can and will solve it. Our hope is in knowing that we are not alone in this journey called life despite what the enemy tries to send our way.
If hope does not disappoint, then disappointment comes when hope is misguided or misdirected. Disappointment is then a result of placing hope in the wrong one. We put hope in men, they disappointed us. We put hope in ourselves and our own abilities, we were disappointed. Why? A sinful nature cannot instill hope because of pleasure seeking. Re-direct. Place your hope in Christ, the Creator rather than the created. Seek to please Him. When God is part of the thought process for every decision, every step, you can’t go wrong, if you wait on His answer.
Hope is belief in what you cannot see. There is no hope without God. Because He is the only one who can see what you can’t. He is the only one that can lead you to it. Without Him life is disappointing and frustrating. Frustration is a result of trying to do on your own, what only God can do. Hold onto your hope. Choose Joy! Relax and let God be God in your life. Trust Him even when you don’t understand. Trust Him even when the path is not clear. Your job is to study the word. Allow God complete control. He will not disappoint. Why continue to try to take the wheel when you don’t know where you are going? Two people can’t be in control, both cannot drive. One has to sit on the passenger side, rest and enjoy the ride. Take in the scenery, smell the roses! Remember the journey is just as important as the final destination.
Coach Indy