Finding Hope When the Bottom Drops Out

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for what God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:2-5 (The Message)

After my husband, Bill, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy about once a quarter I get a reality check. He did well for most of those 13 years after his diagnosis and before his death. He almost died in June, 2010 and never really bounced back. Muscular dystrophy is a progressive disease and often the progression is so slow that you don’t realize it until it hits you right between the eyes. Then other times I would realize that he was not getting better and was, in fact, a little worse. Yet, through this all he remained strong in his faith and incredibly patient.

I remember during that season that we sang a song at church that spoke to the need to ‘surrender’ to the Lord. I started crying as we went into the chorus that says, “Forever I surrender.” I felt anger rise up inside. We were believing for his healing and had seen healing miracles in our years of ministry. Still, he continued to get worse. At that moment, surrender felt like giving up. (Have you ever felt that way?) 

That afternoon in a prayer ministry session I faced my anger and the fear that lurked behind it. I asked the Lord for His perspective and He told me that He was with us every step of the way. I released my sadness to Him and He carried it for me. I felt peace.

 I found joy in taking care of a wonderful man who loved Jesus with all of his heart. We were experiencing hope in the middle of this trial. Check out the ‘passionate patience’ part. Hope and patience are closely linked as you feel the pressure of problems and situations that are out of our control. Passionate patience means that you wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life and leave the timing up to Him. 

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Where does hope come from when the bottom has dropped out? It comes from God who is the true giver of life and hope. When you begin to gain His perspective about the hard times you are going through everything changes, Resist the temptation to rush through them without learning the valuable lessons contained in each one. That is how you can be passionate and wait for the future with an expectant heart that truly believes that God is good and has your best interests at heart.

Help others who have lost hope

You will no longer avoid eye contact with someone who has lost hope. Instead, you will listen to them and encourage them to flourish and become stronger in the midst of their trials. It is in that setting that God’s love overflows and is so abundant that you can’t contain it. It’s spilling over abundantly because it’s the result of knowing that no matter what you am going through, you are surrounded by others who are willing to open up their hearts with love and compassion.  Listen patiently to another person who is going through a trying time. This creates  community of transparent hope, overcoming faith and passionate patience. For daily HOPE messages please click here

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