Trusting In Hope
/
“Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised.” Hebrews 10:23
It is amazing what God can teach you if you listen and focus on what is around you. I was floating on a raft in a pool watching the clouds without a worry or thought in my head except for the shape and movement of the clouds. Now that is a rarity for me and probably for each of you. I was actually purposefully resting and enjoying time away from my normal routine. When I stepped out of the pool and sat on the ledge with my feet in the water, Harper, my cousin’s Golden Retriever, immediately nestled beside me to be touched and have her belly rubbed. All she wanted was to be loved. She was hopeful and expectant and if you stopped, she nudged you to continue.
Oh, the simple pleasures of life – sunshine, water, clouds, touch, and the love of a dog. There was no outside pressure or responsibility. God always teaches us through His creation whether it is in nature or in his animals. Nature rests. Dogs rest. Dogs know how to relax and not let anything bother sleep time. Nature rests in the seasons. There are seasons of growth and the fruit of the growth. There are seasons of rest and renewal. We go through all the seasons in our aging process and in the changes of life, relationships, career, and spiritual growth.
I have found that time away from our routine of daily life is important to process and reflect on where we are currently in life and where God is leading us. It is time to reflect on what we value and place as important in life. Sometimes life just happens, and we keep going and doing without much thought. We go through the motions and believe we are doing what is required and needed. Life can become very routine, and we lose focus and purpose. We do things because we think it is what God wants us to do and because we have always done it.
When life changes, we grieve the change whether from death, circumstances, or any type of loss. Then we begin to look at the life we now have and wonder what life will be now. We have hope that life moves forward. We believe God is with us. We trust God. But do we trust God enough to rest and enjoy life? That is right, to rest and enjoy life. We trust God in the trials of life to be with us. We trust God to be our Savior, Lord, and Heavenly Father. But do we trust God enough to enjoy the life God has given to you and me?
As I rested by the pool, God reminded me that He did not need my help to run the world, to make sure the clouds moved in the correct direction, to check on the sun to make sure it would set on time, and not even help to keep me afloat on the water. God could run the world and take care of his children while I rested. I was not responsible for anyone else’s life or creation. I was to enjoy the moment and focus on His love and care over me as His child. My cousin’s dog, Harper, reminded me of the simple pleasures of life is what God wants me to enjoy and not worry about whether God can take care of everything.
Harper trusts my cousin, her owner, to always provide food, shelter, protection, and love. Harper never worries about it. So why do we worry so much that we do not rest in God’s protection and love? Worry and anxiety really states that the hope that I confessed – God will always love me – is no longer true and I have to worry about the future. Worry and hope do not exist together.
Trust means that I know God is in control and I can rest. It does not mean I do nothing. It means I wait on God to lead. I rest in God’s love and presence. I rest in His creation and nature. I rest from worry and anxiety. I rest in the hope that God will guide me in this new season of life. I rest in not taking my old routine into the new season. I trust God to take me one step at a time.
Rest in the trust and hope of Jesus.
********************
Check out my new book – Live Different Moments. Each chapter has an Annie story. Annie will guide you in living into life.
My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -
My Books – Living In The Different and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/
