Hope That Endures

Hi Friends! Here's the first of the two part hope series I wrote last August. I love this series and "hope" it will bring you encouragement again. Catch part two next week. Then I'll be back!

How do we keep hoping when everything we see tells us there is no hope?

The very definition of faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrew 11:1). But how do we apply that to situations that leave us hope-less? So often I see the struggle of the unequally yoked spouse as a battle to simply hang on to our own faith. In the midst of the adversity the mismatched marriage naturally brings, we find ourselves praying, hoping for our spouse’s salvation. Day after day we petition God. Months or even years pass with no visible change. How do we continue? How do we keep fighting and not give up?

I sit in a unique situation. God has told me the time frame of my husband’s impending salvation. Using scripture, He revealed a glimpse of his seven-year plan to me during a fast and has affirmed it again recently. I know my prayers serve a purpose and will help accomplish what I hope for most—my husband’s salvation. But had I not received this incredible gift, would I still be able to continue praying for what seems an impossibility even in the midst of what I know is to come? Would I have given up by now?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, but my heart aches for anyone struggling with this question: How do I go on? Because even knowing what I know, there are days that I wonder if I’ll even make it to the end. (Can you tell I’m a mother of two teens?)

For days this has been my question to God—how do we continue to hope? I searched my concordance and found one scripture that seems to shed the tiniest of lights on this dimly lit search.

Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

The key seems to be in the third line—those who hope in the Lord. Could it be that we place our hope in the transformation we so desperately desire in our spouses and not in the author of our faith, Jesus? Are we looking in the wrong direction?

When we keep our eyes on our situation and our unbelieving spouses, how can we possibly continue to hope? The burden of our unfulfilled desire becomes the object of our attention and saps the very strength we need to go on. The burden is too heavy for us to carry alone.

If those who hope in the Lord will be strengthened, then by keeping our hope firmly placed in God (the only one who has the power to bring our loved ones to belief) can we persevere and continue, even when things appear hopeless.

With God we can soar above the murky waters of hopelessness. With God we can rise above our own limited ability and trust completely in a God bigger and stronger than anything we are dealing with, even the most stubborn of spouses. With God we can have wild hope—the kind that perseveres even when someone asks you, “How can you be so sure?”

I know my God. I believe my God. I hope in my God. He can do anything. I believe this completely, so therefore, I hope.

I pray this for all of us, for Jesus to not only be the author of our faith but the source of an unending hope planted deep within us and overflowing to God’s glory. “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.” (Romans 15:13)

Praying and Believing,
Dineen

Comments

[Amy]

Absolutely! Our hope IS in God. When it seems like nothing is going right and there doesn't look like there's light at the end of the tunnel all we can do is cling to the rock that is God. He holds us up and keeps us going day by day...great post!

[Noreen]

Dineen, Great post. As long as we keep our focus above He will strengthen us and keep us in the palm of His Hand. I too, know, deep within me that my beloved will come to Christ but how blessed you are to have been given a vision to enable you to continue on in faith.
Blessings dear one.
Noreen

[Angela]

Dineen, I know that hopeless feeling. My mother-in-law passed away in December. During her services the Lord moved greatly and souls were saved at her funeral. I know she was rejoicing in heaven. The one soul that mattered most to her was her son, my husband. He never made any kind of gesture that this powerful service touched him. As I sat there praying I was sure that that was the moment he would seek Christ as his savior and when it didn't happen I gave up. I knew that was the last chance "I" had to get him in Church to hear God's word allowing it to convict him. So I know how it feels to give up. I told the Lord there was no more I could do and I gave up. I have said this before...when I gave up and let God have my husband things started to happen. God had touched my husband at his mothers funeral but I didn't see it so I gave up. One month and a half after the funeral my husband walked into Church with me and that was one of the most amazing moments of my marriage. We have been growing in the Lord and learning how to work together as a Christian couple. The struggles are still there but when I hear people say that there is no hope for a person I tell them never to limit God for he is amazing and my husband of 27 years is proof that God is still saving people. My words of encouragement is "never say anyone is hopeless nor is any situation hopeless". God is truly merciful far beyond what we deserve.

[Dineen Miller]

Thank you for your comments, ladies!

Angela, that's an amazing story! Thank you for sharing it. What a wonderful journey you're on. :-)