I love the new year.  It revives my sense of hope. When I sit and think about it, there really isn’t much different from two weeks ago, but somehow, the new year energizes me, sets me upright, and gets me going. I’m not that big on resolutions, but I do believe in process. I know that by tweaking little things, I can eventually change over time in an effort to reach my goals.

My mother often told me, “If you want to clean the room, start in the corner.” She always managed to encourage me to take on what seemed like an insurmountable task by starting small. And when I refused to give up, I would achieve great things.

This blog post is a continuation of a series I started last year – a series of encouraging words for moms.  It is my sincerest desire that this post would be an encouragement to my mom friends and give them just one word to encourage them through the week.  This week that word is “Hope”. This definition is taken from TheFreeDictionary.com.

1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.
2. To have confidence; trust.
3. To look forward to with confidence or expectation.
4. To expect and desire.
5. Often “hope” in Christianity is the theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God’s help.

What I want to encourage you with this week – is definition number five.  We can have hope because we can trust in God’s desire and plan for us to have a future good.

There have been times in my life when I’ve been very discouraged. When things looks like they were crumbling all around me. Fortunately for me, a wise mentor taught me, “Now is not forever.” She helped me to look forward with hope. To know things can change, and that if I “start in the corner” I can achieve great things.  Looking back now, I can see clearly how hope and trust in God’s plan for my life helped me climb out of a dreary pit and now I’m standing on a mountaintop of His provision for me.

We must not lose heart, or hope.

Circumstances change, but God never changes, and he wants us to place our hope and trust in Him.

I find refreshment in the knowledge of His promises and I want to teach them to my children so they can share in my hope.

My prayer for my beloved family and friends, and for my children is this…

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

If you’re facing a ginormous task, just “start in the corner”, know that “now is not forever”, and remember to never lose hope.

In His Grip,

 

 

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