A Season of Hope

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:24-25

This verse has been popping up in front of me lately. Does that ever happen to you? All of a sudden the same verse keeps showing up out of the blue? When this happens to me, it usually means the verse contains a truth I need to hear. I'm sure I've read this verse hundreds of times. I mean, after all, it precedes a verse that we all know: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (verse 28).

So, although, I'm sure I've read it before, I don't think I really heard it until recently. At the stage of life I'm in now, reading this verse made me think about Christmas as a kid. I don't know about you, but Christmas was always my favorite time of year. After Thanksgiving, I could hardly stand the anticipation as I waited eagerly for Christmas. I daydreamed about the new toys I would get, wondering if I would get the things I had asked Santa to bring me. The days seemed to pass so slowly, and Christmas Eve was torturous. The excitement that led up to Christmas morning was almost more than I could bear.

But when that special day finally arrived, the anticipation was over in an instant. Now, don't get me wrong. It was always a magical day. My mom had a special way of arranging our presents under the tree with just a few presents left unwrapped. And we weren't allowed to just tear into presents like most kids. We had to sit patiently while we watched each sibling open presents from youngest to oldest. Most Christmases that one special gift was under the tree--the one I wanted more than anything else.

So, you see, it wasn't that I didn't have special Christmases. The disappointment came when I realized that the anticipation of Christmas was more exciting than the actual day. Even when I got the presents I wanted, I usually got tired of playing with them. Or the new clothes I got didn't fit. Or a toy broke after one use. I'll never forget the year my brother got a small remote control helicopter that flew somewhere around 80 feet high. It was the coolest toy ever. We all gathered around and watched as he flew it high into the sky. We could barely see it as it towered over the trees. Suddenly, it ran out of gas and plummeted to the ground. Where it landed, we'll never know. It was fun while it lasted, but it sure didn't last long. :-)

So, what's the point? I've come to realize a season of hope can be more exciting than the anticipated event awaiting on the other side. I am in a season full of hope right now. My future is wide open and a little uncertain. I have goals--lots of them! I imagine the day in December of 2011 when I will walk across the stage and receive the degree I've been working toward. I hope for a job doing something I love after graduation. I dream of the day I can buy a home again. I long to go on a mission trip to an orphanage. I even anticipate the day I can consider adopting again. If I already had everything lined up perfectly in my life, the anticipation of these things would be over...much like Christmas afternoon. God can always plant new hopes in my heart, and I fully expect that He will over the years. However, I seem to be living in a season of hope right now. A few weeks ago I looked at this in a negative light, but after reading this verse several times, I am embracing this thought! Why would I hope for something I already have? Instead of feeling sad about this season of life I'm going to have an attitude of hope as I anticipte all the wonderful things my Savior has in store for me. The sky isn't the limit...it's just the beginning. I'm ready to soar!

He Fought For Me

"I just wish someone would fight for me!" It almost sounds silly to me now, but these words actually came from my own mouth. Have you ever felt like someone gave up on you too soon? A parent? A spouse? A friend?

Well, I can say that I have felt this way. Rejected. Replaced. Used. And it hit me recently that maybe all I really need is for someone to fight for me. Treasure me. Protect me. Prove their love by going the distance, even when I'm unlovable.

As I wallowed in self-pity the other night, I realized that I was acting in a way that wasn't very becoming. I knew I was being selfish. Stubborn. Unlovable. Childish, even. Sometimes it's easy to recognize when I'm acting this way, but that doesn't mean it's easy to change my attitude. I've even given myself pep talks before. They go something like this:

Sensible Me: "Trisha, come on. You know you're acting silly. Cheer up. You have a lot of things for which you can be thankful."

Pitiful Me: "But life's not fair. I never thought I'd have to walk this path. I'm tired of being strong. I just want to feel sorry for myself right now."

Sensible Me: "Life isn't fair. Isn't that what you tell the kids all the time? That doesn't mean you should sit around and mope. Get up and do something. Make a change. You don't have to be strong. God will carry you."

So what do I do? Yep. I usually mope some more. It's just easier that way.

But on this particular night, I turned on some music, because music speaks to my soul. I just need to do some soul searching when I get in these moods. I pulled up a song on Youtube that is one of my favorites from long ago.
   

Love Song by Third Day
I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves.
How many times has he broken that promise?
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain,
But I walked the hill of Calvary.

Just to be with you, I will do anything
There's no price I would not pay, no.
Just to be with you, I would give everything
I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves.
All of those dreams are an empty emotion.
It can never be done.
I've never swam the deepest ocean,
But I walked upon the raging sea.

Just to be with you, I will do anything
There's no price I would not pay, no.
Just to be with you, I would give everything
I would give my life away.

I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love.
How I died upon the cross for your sins.
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I give you,
But I promise, I would do it all again.

Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay, no.
Just to be with you, I gave everything.
Yes, I gave my life away.
Just to be with you.


That's when it hit me! Someone did fight for me! When I was unlovable, selfish, stubborn and childish, not only did Jesus fight for me, He gave His life for me. In light of that, should it really matter if I ever find someone on earth willing to fight for me? Honestly, even if I felt like someone was willing to fight for me, they would still be human. They would still make mistakes. They would still hurt me. That's why I have to learn to get my validation from my Savior...not from anyone or anything on this earth. Otherwise, I'm simply setting myself up for a lifetime of disappointments and mopey days.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3

I'm glad I wrote this. The next time I have a pity party, I'll be sure to log on and read this again. I need reminders on a regular basis. :-)