“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah
55:8–9).
Hope comes in many forms and in unexpected truths. This verse got me thinking about Hope. I often think about dreams and aspirations when I think of hope- after all, a biblical definition of faith
itself includes hope:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)
In the words from Isaiah above, God says something that virtually eliminates all concern, worry, doubts, fears, despair. God assures us that he is in control and we can’t begin
to comprehend the reasonings of His ways.
How does this relate to Hope?
One of the first responses we have in the face of bad circumstances is to question God. Even people that don’t believe in God (or say they don’t) say things like, “Why would a
God of love allow this to happen?” “If God is real then why is there ____________ in the world?” (fill in your favorite peeve- death, cancer, hunger, suffering, tornados, etc…)
If I have placed my faith and trust in Jesus, my Hope in the evidence of the unseen, then I grab on to Isaiah 55:8-9 with all my might. I say, God, the void in my heart from you
taking my daughter home is almost unbearable! My HOPE is found only in you! There is no other cure for this broken heart! Since your ways are HIGHER (better!!) than mine, I believe that this finds it’s place in your grand story, into your will and purpose
for me. I can truly HOPE with a real expectation that there is a divine order, a plan, that ultimately resolves all the doubts, questions, fears that my small mind has conjured up.
So how about an action plan? What can we do to let Hope rise in the face of every circumstance?
I propose four things:
1.
Quality God time. More than just giving God our ‘to do’ list, He desires to meet you in the anxious moments. Just as a child cries out to its parent, with arms extended
upward, we just need to say, Hold me Daddy! Words are not required!
2.
Get in to God’s Word! Make a list of scriptures that speak to your heart! Write them out! Put them where you can see them! Refrigerator, medicine cabinet mirror, how
about taping it to your TV remote? (lol) Put Isaiah 55:8-9 on the list!
3.
Get into friendship with other believers! Find a small group, or even a prayer partner. Share your life with others! God will use these relationships to encourage, strengthen
and use you!
4.
Find your ministry- ministry is a churchy word, but it means doing the thing you were created to do to bless others. Your Hope level will rise as you make a difference
in others lives!
We would love to help you on your journey! Contact us through our FB, respond to this blog, email or whatever works for you!
