Experiencing Hope

In this season of COVID 19 which does not seem that it will ever end, and when it does the world which we have experienced up to now will never be the same again. The god of this world (Satan) has used the media to confuse and give no hope to the people of the world, and there is a danger that we can allow these circumstances to dull our relationship with the Lord and begin to despair for the future. This is what has been happening to me, I have to fight to look forward to what God has planned for my life. As I spend time with the Lord each day I have noticed that I have allowed it to become routine instead of experiencing the freshness of the Lord. This freshness cannot be fabricated, so time must be given for me to experience that freshness. I admit that at times that was not the case so I have begun to seek the Lord to find out what was missing from my life. As I have sought the Lord, I have been reminded of my personality, While I could never be the life of the party, despite giving the impression of being shy, I am very strong-willed and never sit on the fence – always having a strong belief in God. I would never consider myself adventurous but as I look back over my life it has not been ordinary. In 1967 after 7 years of marriage, we sold our house in Ballarat and move to Melbourne to live. In 1977 I became a Pastor for about 16 years and Pastored 4 churches and saw the Lord do mighty things. In 1985  we moved from Melbourne to Queensland to live, in 2004 moved back to Melbourne and a year later moved back to Queensland. In 2010 our youngest daughter at the age of 40 years un-expectantly went to heaven. In 2014 the love of my life for over 53 years without warning finished her life’s journey. The lord has helped me through this challenging time and I was encouraged to start writing my ‘Reflections” books which I have published 5 books. As I have looked back over my lifetime I have been encouraged by the hand of God on my life over those years but that did not explain what I was feeling. I was drawn to 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT which says: “There are three things that will endure – Fath. Hope, and Love – and the greatest of these is love”. As I read this verse I was challenged by the truth that hope is on the same level of importance as faith and love. I do not question the love of God in my life – I was born again because of His love for me in sending Jesus to die on the cross and rise again so that the power of sin is broken forever. I understand the truth of Hebrews 11:6 which says: “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”, and Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.  So what is the biblical definition of hope – it is the “Favourable and confident expectation” which leads to “The happy anticipation of good”. This is the missing element of the way I have been living – I had become passive and while I still love the Lord with all His goodness, there has been no expectation to see His hand on my life and in my future. I had become content just let to life go by without the excitement of being filled with God’s hope. I am so glad that hope has now returned and while my circumstances have not changed there is a quiet confidence that was not there before.