Hope and where to find it

Do you ever wonder where hope comes from?  Have you experienced feelings of expectation, that something is about to happen or God is about to do something?  I came back from a spiritual retreat and found myself overflowing with hope.  So much hope that I wanted to share it with you, friends and family.

This morning my hope continues as I met with a friend at Starbucks to share my experience of God working in my life.  As I began to share, something started to happen as she opened up as well.  Our energy began to bounce off each other, story after story, first me and then her.  I could see a depth of God at work in our lives.  It was incredible.  I remember the scripture, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend,” and I realize we are experiencing this sharpening.  God is teaching us through our relationship.  She gives me hope and I give it back to her.  We begin to see how big God really is.  We move into a place of authentic conversation as I experience God through her.  It’s real and I feel more alive than ever.  I expect God to work through these meetings, and even hope for it.    

As we finished our time together, she slid a bright yellow book across the table, entitled,  hope for the flowers, by Trina Paulus. This delightfully illustrated tale shares a story of a caterpillar that knows she was created for something more.  She just doesn’t know what it is.  She can feel it.  When she finally realizes that it is to become a beautiful butterfly, she has no idea if that butterfly truly exists within her or how to manifest it.  She hopes for it anyway.  By faith, she keeps moving forward.  She meets a caterpillar forming his own cocoon and he explains to her that  she  must enter into her cocoon, leaving everything she has known behind in an effort to become what she was created to be.  This is a big leap of faith for the little caterpillar, as she has only known herself as a caterpillar.  I cried as the little caterpillar began to form her own cocoon.  Of course, we know that caterpillars do in fact transform into butterflies. But do we realize that we too have a butterfly hidden inside each of us?  The image of God is gently tucked beneath our rugged exterior, waiting patiently to emerge and transform us into the people that God created us to be.

How do we get there from where we are today?

1. We hope.  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
2. We step forward in faith moving toward a life in Christ.  We don’t have to understand it or try to figure it all out.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
3. We continue meeting together.  “Let’s do it!—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on…”

I would encourage you to begin meeting with an accountability partner.  That can be a friend, spouse, co-worker, discipleship coach or small group.  Make sure this person is someone that will fill you with hope and strengthen your faith as you move forward on your spiritual journey.  Commit to meet together once a week for 4 weeks.  Share your struggles and how you experience God.  Agree to encourage and pray for one another.  Journal your results and see where you are in 30 days.  Do you feel more connected with God?  Do you feel more connected with others?  Do you feel that your faith has grown?  What lessons have you learned from this time of meeting together?  I’d love to hear from you, so be sure to comment below.  Especially if you plan to do this.  By commenting below, you are taking an action step.  And for that, I am proud of you.

Our prayer:  “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.”  In Jesus Name, Amen.  -M