We can all relate to a topic on hope! I am sure that not a single person in this world could say that at some point in their lives, hope did not come into play. It might not be a matter of speaking about it, but surely the thought must have crossed your mind.
Many things in our lives are based on hope, which is not just a word, but an action that involves certain things. In this e-book, of which this is Part 1, I would like to talk about hope, and more specifically, shaken hope.
When asking others what they hoped for and are hoping for, you often, especially speaking to those that are already saved in Christ, the response is to receive and use spiritual gifts to glorify God. Yes, off course that is also what I hope for. We want the gifts of the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives, so that we can start eating “solid food”.
If we are honest with ourselves, we are only human and therefore, as part of everyday life, we also hope for other things. I try to recall my growing up and although we were not rich, from a worldly perspective, we had loving parents who took good care of us, loved us, and protected us. Did I wish for many things as a teenager? Off course I did. I asked my dad permission to go to school dances, only to hear him say no, repeatedly.
However, I did not lose hope, and yes, finally in Grade 12, I was allowed to go to a dance. Thinking back now, it was overrated and looking around me, I realised that my dad was only protecting me, all the times he refused my requests. So yes, there are reasons why we sometimes do not get the things we hope for. At the given time, we might not see it, nor understand or agree with it, but after years it makes more sense when we look at it again through a different lens, called experience.
Another childhood memory was, when I noticed that my mom would be different when she was on leave, than when she was working and only more relaxed over weekends. She was never rude or nasty, simply different. Hence, I always hoped that when she had leave, she would not have to go back to work and when we come from school, she would be there.
With this said, I very well understood why she had to work, because it helped to clothe and feed us. When I became a mom, the same applied in our house and our kids would say the same to me. Once again, did any of us get what we hoped for? No! However, there was a reason for that, which we understood only later in life.
I could mention many things that I hoped for but did not get. However, I could also list many things that I hoped for and did get. One example is my husband. I prayed, asked, and hoped for a man that would love me, for me. I hoped for a man that would love God, more than me. I got that man and am still very much in love with him, after 34 years of being married. Did I have to wait for Him? Yes! Was it worth it? Yes!
It is the same when we are in a relationship with our Heavenly Father. He does not give us everything we ask for. Yet, in His Word, He does say that we can ask Him anything (John 15:7, Mark 11:24). However, let us not forget that when we ask, we must also ask for it, to be according to His will (Matthew 6:9-13, James 4:15)
In the articles to follow, we will continue to talk about hope. I HOPE that you will keep an eye out for the rest of the e-book on Shaken Hope.
Love in Christ
Princess K