Misplaced Hope
Pinning Our Hopes & Dreams on the Wrong Thing
By Andrea Y. Hughes, Editor of Selectedly Single Newsletter
|
Print Version |
Discuss Online
Have you been waiting for the right man or woman or
time or job, amount of money or situation or state of life to come along before
you believe you can be happy or feel you have arrived? Wondering how you are
going to keep yourself, "hang in there," until your ship, Cinderella, or Prince
Charming comes in to save you from all the hormones kicking up, down times, &
bad days? Could it be that you have pinned your hopes on the wrong thing? Could
it be that you are not supposed to be saved from but to go through this life in
a different way. Maybe it is not "the pot at the end of the rainbow" at all.
Maybe it's the journey along the way that's really it, keeping our eyes and
senses open while traveling with other companions along an adventure, not quite
what we wanted, but which has gifts bestowed greater than our misplaced hope in:
"just the right job", amount of money, marriage partner, or right place. Ask
anyone who finally got "the Job'", "the money", "the wife" or "the husband", and
they will tell you along with it came more stresses and strains, problems.
So where should our "hope" be and what is this long
time of going through about? Well the apostle Peter who was like the other
apostles, pinning his hopes on finally being a "big fish" in the Israeli
community, even a bigger king pin then the Scribes and the Pharisees, since he
was the close buddy of the Messiah, gives us some inside information in Peter's
first letter (I Peter) to the church (us too). Peter tells us in I Peter
chapter1:3 that our hope should be different than maybe what it is. Our hope
should be "lively", (Have you ever noticed how dreary many Christians look?) not
fixed on dead end, corruptible things. Our hope, he says, should be in a new
life in Jesus that never can perish (be wiped out by national disasters like
Katrina, market crashes, etc.) or spoil (like a marriage gone bad because of an
unfaithful or lying spouse) or fade (like that new wardrobe or house or car).
Our hope is to be put in God through an ongoing, adventurous relationship with
Jesus, the real "rock" and way and truth, John 14:6. Moreover, this life is
meant for us to go through with guaranteed trails. Darn, what a surprise for
some of us "do right" Christians. Remember, "No cross, no crown?"
However, we are suppose to go through this life with
its trials, greatly rejoicing, James 1:2-4. (Lord). The reasons are because:
#1-we have born into this non perishing inheritance, #2 - because God values the
growth of our faith - which He says is of "greater worth than gold,"v.3:7 and is
"refining it" (glory) so that our faith will be genuine and result in praise,
glory and honor (instead of shame) when Jesus is revealed! Alleluia! God is
interested in our success! My God! He even gives us grace along with this gift
of life, I Peter3:10, along with the testimony and encouraging words from the
prophets like Isaiah, (Is. 40:15, 55:1-3,6-13, 30:15-18, Jeremiah, (Jer. 31:3-4)
and Micah (Micah 6:8).
Therefore, look around and ahead for what else the
Lord has for you besides "the pot at the end of the rainbow" dream. He says what
He has is "more than we could ask or think of", Ephesians 3:20 and we don't have
to wait for the perfect anything to get it. The real blessings come along the
way. He says through the prophet Isaiah 30:15 that "It is in returning (to Him
again and again) and resting (in Him) that you will be saved (from fretting,
worrying, anxiety about false hopes, etc.); in quietness and in confidence shall
be your strength: and ye would not." Also that those who wait on Him "shall
renew their strength; mount up with wings as eagles; run and not grow weary,
walk and not faint". Is. 40:31. He also says we would "be strong and do
exploits" Daniel 11:32 and that singles would be well known as they honor His
commands and choose the things that please Him, Is. 56:3-7 "better known than
those who have sons and daughters" (for all of us who like a little notoriety).
I could go on. He is faithful.
 Join with other singles in pursuit of genuineness
and purity in faith and life, who are participating in some of these great
adventures. These singles, focused in the development of holiness, allow the
world, by observing your good deeds and character, thus join in glorifying God
when He returns, I Pet. 2:1-12.
See the
www.relationships-sweet.com or
www.abundantlylivingserv.com sites.
to top of page
|
