Beautiful Hope

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"        (Romans 5:3-5 The Message)

Hope is a delicate, beautiful thing.  I have a particular situation in my life that I've ached over for a long time.  I think I've been through all phases with it.  I was hopeful at some point, but then, over time, I experienced sadness, frustration, anger, agony, and finally, numbness.  I actually pretty much lost hope things would change for the better.  I've fought to keep my hope in God, all while I prayed for change.  And I've found it challenging to keep hoping when situations are unresolved for long periods of time.  The thing is, God is faithful even when man is not.  

Again, I think about the woman in the Bible with the issue of blood.  She had suffered for 12 long years.  That's over 4,300 days! Talk about longsuffering! The Bible does not say this woman was smiling every day, or even that she was hopeful every day.  I'd bet she had times when she wanted to give up--to die.  Let me tell you, there are some things you can face that will make you want to just give up completely.  I know I've felt pain that made me feel like I was going just fall completely apart-or even have some sort of break down!  But, like the woman with this health issue that lasted so long, I keep coming back to hope! It's been really hard--and the truth is, I haven't hoped much in this situation for awhile, but I kept fighting to keep my hope and faith in God.

Well, this evening I noticed something.  I had hope!!! Hope about the situation that has not changed in many years.  Hope that made me smile.  I know it could only have been God who restored my hope.  Is the situation different? Not yet-as far as I can see, but I believe that as the scripture says above, In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. When we hope in God, we are never left feeling shortchanged.  If you find yourself feeling shortchanged, check where you left your hope.