The Formula for Hope
I have a little “thought for the day” calendar with scriptures, quotes, inspirational sayings, etc. Not too long ago, the thought for the day was: “If God’s will differs from your will, which will you choose?” I’ve read this thought before in the calendar over the years, but it struck me profoundly that day. It was one of those uncomfortable moments with the Lord and myself where I heard this still small voice saying, “Well…?”
Of course I know the answer that most of us would want to spout-off in a moment is, “Yes, of course Lord! I will always choose YOUR will.” But I know from experience, that this is not always true. I don’t always choose His will. None of us do. We consistently battle our own will, our flesh, spiritual influences in the spiritual realm we know very little about…
Lately, I’ve had to beat at and smack at the beast of Discouragement. It’s a nasty little minion of the enemy. And to be honest, I haven’t fought it the whole time; I’ve actually given into it several times, receiving its unwholesome words, letting them surround me and wash over me. I know that there are legitimate concerns attached to the discouragement I feel, but I also know that discouragement is never from the Lord.
It is a pothole on the path. A pothole filled with muddy water. Once you fall into the hole, it can be very difficult to get out. And for me, this has been true. I have genuinely struggled to climb up out of it and have fought to regain footing and have many times fallen right back into the muddy mess.
Only the last few days, in a slow, slow process have I begun to rise up out of the muck. How? The Lord in His infinite kindness, spoke a word to me, reconfirming previous words He had already spoken over my life, and it was something I could hold onto. Not to mention I have felt the constant prodding and reassurance of His Spirit. And God also unexpectedly provided prayer support and gave me encouragement in different ways, but even at that…there was one missing piece.
I had to choose to come up out of that mire. I had to choose His will over mine. You see, it had at some point become uncomfortably comfortable to remain there in that discouragement. I didn’t really want to live there, but the heaviness was so completely dense that it was becoming easier and easier to stay there. I had to consciously choose to throw off its fetters and let discouragement give way to HOPE.
There seems to be a formula in Scripture for HOPE:
Rely on God’s Word for HOPE: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
Rely on God’s Spirit for 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
Obey the personal command for HOPE: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Today, if you or someone you know has been battling discouragement, there is HOPE. Grasp onto it and do not let go.
Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member