This morning I had the privilege of speaking with my very good friend and fellow adoptive mom, Mollie. I was somewhat lamenting of having to endure another mini-home study in order to file an extension with the US Government. It's not a big deal but its a little bit more paper chasing and an updated physical. All of which is more time and more money!
I was sharing (in all my transparency) how, at times its hard not to be frustrated when we are still not matched with a child. She was so encouraging and sent me this short devo to read. I encourage you to read it also. It moved me to tears and it was once again the reminder I needed that His timing is perfect and I will never fail while I HOPE in HIM.
And so standing on the word He gave all those months ago, we wait with CONFIDENT EXPECTATION. Be blessed!
Hope
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.
Listen with your spirit to Romans 5:2-5. "...Our [Lord Jesus Christ] ... through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Beloved one, Jesus has brought you into the grace of highest privilege, and you can be full of joy now, in problems, troubles, and trials, because you confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing his glory. The Greek word translated hope means desiring some good and confidently expecting to obtain it. Your victory is in your Father, in spite of opposition, challenges, or suffering that comes to you. Even when expectation delays, when the waiting gets long without fulfillment, you can have the confidence of your Father that he is working good for you. God-given desire leads somewhere: to learning to endure, to developing strength of character, and to confident expectation of seeing the glory of his love for you. This confidence will never disappoint you because how dearly he loves you will never change. The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is with you to fill your heart with assurance that your Father loves you. That's why as a Father he can tell you gently and firmly, "Be joyful in hope."
Listen with your spirit to Jeremiah 17:7. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." And Isaiah 49:23. "Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed."
Beloved one, you are in God's waiting room, anticipating and expecting while you are learning the meaning of hope. Be blessed with hope when your expectation is delayed. One of the Hebrew words for hope and wait derives from the same root word. The Hebrew words translated hope mean confidence, twisting in labor pains, waiting, shelter, expectation, patience, security, trust, enduring, expectancy, something longed for. When your temptation to hopelessness continues without fulfillment, your Father says that those who wait for him will never be put to shame. The God of hope fills you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Be blessed with overflowing with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit in you filling up what is lacking that you can't humanly do. Your Father's eyes are on those who hope, so be blessed with knowing that he rewards those who hope in him. Be blessed with security and safety because your hope is anchored in your Father's love.
Listen to Psalm 62:5-6. "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." And 2 Timothy 1:12. "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."
Beloved one, be blessed with rest and quietness that come from God. Be blessed in your spirit with a strong sense of standing on a solid rock of God's faithfulness and timing. Be blessed with unshakable confidence that your Father is in charge of your circumstances. Ask your Father the right questions as your gaze is fixed on him. There is never a valley of trouble that he does not intend you to pass through with his wisdom and guidance and grace. He gives his faithfulness and fruitfulness in the face of circumstances that look hopeless.
Listen with your spirit to Hebrews 6:18-19. "God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
Beloved one, your Father cannot lie and will not lie. Be blessed with continued faith in his goodness and unmovable hope as gifts from him that produce encouragement. He will give you perfect understanding in your spirit that he will never change his mind about you. Run to him as your strong and trustworthy security. Take refuge in him so that you hold on to his character and his promises with confidence. Be blessed with remaining in the three-fold cord of faith, hope, and love. Allow your Father to replace your burden with his faith, your disappointment with his hope, and your doubts with his love. Be blessed by offering him a sacrifice of thanksgiving, with singing songs in the night, with connecting with your Father in a special and deep way as you praise him for his unchangeableness. Be blessed with unshakable hope, when everything else is shaken.
I bless you in the name of the God of hope.
