Hold Onto Hope!

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (NIV)

Eight weeks after my shoulder surgery, statistics said I should have been sleeping comfortably in my bed and getting back to a normal life without too much pain. But that wasn't the case when I walked into the physical therapy clinic last week. Operating on just a few hours of sleep, punctuated with painful awakenings, I’m sure I looked like a disheveled mess to my physical therapist. At the very least, I felt like one!

“I need hope,” I cried to her. “I just need to know that I won’t feel like this forever; that somehow, I will get past the pain. Not the occasional pain, but the daily pain.”

We all have days like that, don’t we? Those days when we are desperate for an encouraging word, a more hopeful spirit that will keep us going through the tough times in our lives. Whether it’s a health issue or a job situation or a relationship struggle, sometimes life just piles on us more than we feel we can handle. We try and tell ourselves “this too shall pass,” but there’s something inside of us that doesn't really believe it, because it certainly doesn't feel that way. It’s in those moments that we need something from beyond ourselves: we need the kind of hope that only God can give.

When I find myself in the pit of despair and discouragement, I not only cry out to others, but cry out to God, and He always answers. Somehow, He finds a way to bring hope and restoration to my weary soul. Last week, it came through my physical therapist who assured me that my shoulder pain would indeed pass. This week, as I have continued to struggle with my health and other situations, it has come through several books. As I have begun to read through Forever Hope by Laura Shook and Get Your Hopes Up! by Joyce Meyer (see my Helpful Resources page for links to these), I have seen that even in the darkest times, hope really is possible!

In Psalm 62:5, we are told that our hope comes from the Lord. In Psalm 23, we are reassured that even in the shadow of the valley of death, God is with us. There is no need to fear, for He is there to comfort and guide; and as He is Love, so we know He is also good and cares for us beyond what we can even imagine.

Today, I have made a choice to hold onto hope. I believe something good is going to happen to me today and through me today. Why? Because God is good and Scripture is clear that He wants to bless me – not necessarily changing my circumstance, but rather, giving me hope and joy and peace in the midst of it – in order to be a blessing to others. Today, I do not have to be bound in hopelessness, based on my circumstances. I can rise above them, even as on wings of eagles, and know that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. And I can have hope for tomorrow, holding to the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, which says God has a plan for me and it is good!

No matter where you are today, hold on to the hope that comes from God. There is nothing that can separate you from His love. Believe it! 

Hold Onto Hope! originally appeared on Spring Sight blog, by Linda W. Perkins.  Get even more encouragement by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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