In Part 1 and 2 we talked about how we hope for many things, which we might not always get and that although we might wonder why, it is often God protecting us. The things kids and adults hope for are linked and if not fulfilled during childhood (within a healthy balance), it will impact the emotional state and lives of those kids, once adolescence is reached. Our hope is the Lord Jesus Christ and only through faith in Him, will we be able to experience real love as intended by God. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, please click here.
I want you to do a little exercise. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and draw a cross. At the top, write GOD. In the middle of the cross draw a circle and write LOVE. On the left, write FAITH and on the right, write HOPE. At the bottom, write WAIT. So, Jesus Christ is the centre for He is LOVE and if you remove that, there is nothing left. That is why God says it is FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE (1 Corinthians 13) but that the greatest is LOVE. Love holds the cross together. Faith and Hope is in the same line as Love, showing that the three is bind together. At the bottom is WAIT. Remember Hebrews 11:1? Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. That means there is waiting involved and waiting requires you to trust God.
Perhaps you have been hoping for certain things for a long time and because it has not happened, your trust is God is not at the level it should be. Are you still hoping or did you give up? I want to tell you today, that God does not want you to give up. He does not want you to give up on love, yourself, your dreams, and on others.
Our son, who is now an adult, used to pray for so many things. Now, remember that a child prays for things that a child wants, and it might be earthly things, for children do not necessarily understand the spiritual things we pray for. He prayed for a swimming pool and games, and some he got and others not. We took him through a process of coaching him on prayer, asking, trusting, and then accepting God’s will, even if he did not get what He wanted, for His Father in Heaven knew better.
So, whether a child or us as adults, we need to teach ourselves that if God says no, or wait, He has something else planned and we must trust Him in that (Jeremiah 29:11). Yes, we hope but sometimes our hope is shaken and that is when faith and trust in God must step in. When we learn to trust God, even then when our hope is shaken, we will not loose hope! Never! He is the only one we can trust to deal with the past the current and the future.
Be encouraged today reader. If you are hoping for something specific, do not give up! Reflect on the message shared in this e-book regularly. You might have children or know children and after reading what was listed in Part 2 regarding the things that kids hope for, put in an effort, to work on those things with the children, so that they grow up to be adults who experience love, joy, peace and the things listed by adults, that they hope for in everyday life.
Do we always get what we want? No, we do not! But do not lose hope in the One who can give and bring about change. Yes, sometimes our hope is shaken, but when that is the case, stand firm in your faith for the ONE, who is LOVE, Jesus Christ, will never give up on you!
Love in Christ
Princess K