hope = God is in control

you look at the world and you immediately see (now more than ever) that people seem hopeless. Hopelessness is an epidemic that is spreading at an alarming rate.  this weekend I got a note that said, “i can’t even find one tiny piece of hope left.  i’m actually beginning to fear.  i have more downs than ups and i feel totally hopeless.” 

i can relate (at least a little) to how this person feels.  when our church trailer was stolen, i can honestly say that mary and i both immediately trusted God and knew that he would take care of the summit.  but, this past week, i found myself putting my hope in other people to step up and help us out financially.  i realized that my hope had somehow slightly shifted from God to people (from looking up, to looking out).  huge mistake, should have known better, but thankful that the Holy Spirit helped me to identify it quickly.  

the best definition of hope (in my opinion)  is simple, but powerful - hope = God is in control.  God is fully in control of my life, my family, the summit, and this world.  earlier today, i read psalm 121 - “i look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?  no, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.”  my hope is not in anything or anyone in this world, my hope is in the creator of everything and everyone in the world.  

i sincerely pray that regardless of what is going on in your life right now (or no matter how hopeless you feel) - that you would simply look up and remember that God is in control.