0
0
Happy New Year! Sure, the new year is about three weeks old, but this is a perfect time to write about hope in 2022. Three weeks in means our new year resolutions are starting to fade. I know I’m struggling to keep mine going. One of mine lasted about eight days. I was going to do deep stretching, similar to yoga. Started off great. I was up every morning starting my day off right. But then a full week of work, fatigue, crankiness, and before you know it, I was making excuses. I’m still trying but more days than not, I’m going for the other S word, sleep.
According to the New York Post, an overwhelming amount of people give up their resolutions before January ends. So why? Why do we start the new year off with these awesome goals only to see them fizzle? C’mon, I mean we all want this year to be better than last. We all hope for brighter days ahead, and our resolutions should help us achieve such things. Well, hope without the one true Hope is nothing more than an empty wish in ourselves, and that doesn’t seem to work out.
Wishing upon a star may work out for Pinocchio, but it rarely works in the real world. Hope has become much like that in our society. We throw the word around and it has lost its deep meaning. Instead it has become shallow and empty. I hope the Blues win another Cup. I hope I get a raise. I hope this year is better than last. I hope it doesn’t rain. I hope, I hope, I hope. Hope was never meant to be synonymous with wish, but we have made it so.
Hope isn’t a wish. Hope is real; hope is what Jesus instills in us. He wants us to rest in His hope. Romans 15:13 states, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Wow, now that’s the hope I want! A hope that brings joy and peace. I want to overflow with hope! Whoever wanted to overflow with wishes? Hope in Christ is real! But there is a catch: smack dab in the middle of that verse is the phrase “as you trust in Him.” To receive this mind-blowing hope, this hope that helps you accomplish things, this hope that allows you to be joyful in all things, this hope that lets you have peace when the world around you is in turmoil, you must trust Him.
Funny thing…if you look up the word hope in the dictionary, you will find that listed below the first definition of “a feeling of expectation and desire,” is an archaic definition. The archaic definition simply states, “a feeling of trust.” Archaic – in other words, really old. Well, maybe that really old definition is what we need in 2022. Maybe that feeling of trust needs to come in Him who can really bring hope.
I know for me another resolution is to write at least one blog a month. I’m doing alright since we are in January, but I also know when the busy times hit, I will need the hope I find in Jesus to see me through. If I rely on my own wishing for it to be, I know there will be some times throughout the year that I’m busier than a cat at a sardine canning company and the blog will be what slides. Plus the Lord has been working on me to step out and do more with social ministry than just a blog. If my hope isn’t planted in Him, then that will never work because my own fear of rejection will squash any wish I may have.
I believe if we start putting our trust in Him, He will help us stick to those resolutions. I think in 2022 we should seek to find out what this archaic hope is all about. Who knows what things we can accomplish? Until next time, God bless you and yours.
Another great job son. It is inspiring, challenging, and an open door to those who find themselves hopeless. I’m very proud of what you were doing here. You are affecting lives and that is a great blessing to all those who read this blog especially your dad. I love you son.