the path that keeps me going?

By Joyce Pelletier
Psalm 131:3 Put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore!
The definitions of hope are…

1. A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
2. A feeling of trust – our private friendship, upon hope and alliance.
3. Want something to happen or be the case. “he’s hoping for an offer of compensation.

      Proverbs 3:5-6 says… “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”

          The needs of our lives are uncountable. The wants of our lives goes beyond that.
The hope of our lives is debatable. Trust is an on-going quest for growth.

            Every moment of my life I ‘need’ breath, food, water, clothes, housing, a job to sustain me. The ‘wants’ I have are those wishful thinking things that ‘I’ think ‘I’ need. Which is often not always so. The most important ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ we long for is love.

            I’ve been learning it’s okay to pray for wants, but what is far better is to pray for what I need to get through this life with the Lord at my side. Some wants connect with God’s plan. Such as wanting a deeper relationship with God. He’s ready for action on that. Sometimes the wants and needs get disjointed. 

            An example of this is when I sit down to write a blog, I never really know what I’ll share. I’m willing to venture the thought that anyone who blogs feels the same way. Something it happens when I sit down to write. I will often find a verse that has meaning to what I’m thinking about at that moment.

           I had a friend encourage me to keep a journal. He said, “Even though there may be days when you can’t think of a thing to write about. Start with ‘I don’t have anything to write about today. There is nothing going on right now.’ Then the writing comes next. You’ll be surprised how much you come up with. Writing happens with purpose most days. There are many days when you have only to say, ‘that’s all I have today, Lord.” I’ve learned that there are many days of quiet, non-writing thoughts that don’t have to go on paper. Those thoughts just take up space in my thoughts and often I find them consoling and I can find purpose in that too. 

            Truth be told, God knows my heart. When I sit down to write, I know He’s going to give me something to talk about. If not, then it’s okay to be quiet, as well. I see lessons at every corner of every day He gives me. So, in that I have hope. When I pray for someone’s need, and I know the prayer is in line with God. All I need is to trust in His provision.

            I recently attended a concert by The Aphasia Choir at South Burlington High School. I know the leader who has put this together. She is gifted and that gives me hope that whatever this group does it will be their best. The members of this choir are victims of stroke and other issues that have limited their lives. But they will be singing for the joy of overcoming their disabilities and so they offer a message of “HOPE” through song.” Isn’t that all that we need? She says that a stroke can take away the ability to speak, which comes from one side of the brain, singing comes from the other side of the brain. That means this therapy allows people to sing to their hearts’ content. I can tell you that I have never enjoyed a concert more than this one.

            In God we trust, for He gives us Hope. He answers our prayers in accordance with His holy and precious will. He has the power of making a man out of dirt, therefore He can do anything. Why shouldn’t I trust Him. After all I am a child of God. I can ask Jesus for what He thinks I need most. So, I ask myself, “What am I asking for? Is it riches when all I need is peace?”

           When we pray for hope and peace, that means we desire to trust God. Somehow when I pray, I’m learning to consider what His plan might turn out to be, then I will have hope that I can trust in His plan. May you know the beauty of his “HOPE” for your life.

            Please pray with me, ‘Jesus, inspire my heart with trust. I know there is no end on the road of hard things. But hope is only elusive if we ignore it. Anticipation of Hope is Joy knowing that a am aware of something much deeper and profound than "ME>"  This is what makes it all worthwhile.  Keep me grounded on the road to peace. Bless my soul with your Word so that my whole being will be filled with hope. Therefore, I can love you through all of life’s hard things.  Help me to consider consciously all the needs and wants that I have and accept full well that you have all that I need, and that is what I truly want. Thank you Jesus, In your Holy Name, AMEN!’