Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 17, Jeremiah 21, Romans 7-8
Before the Brinkman family left for vacation, we arranged a play date with my daughter Hannah and their two girls. After swimming, they decided to go on the back porch and play "camping" with some of the camping gear that was laid out for the trip. Cara, being the oldest and best ringleader for the younger two girls, set out three sleeping bags with pillows. She made sure that Faith and Hannah lay still and stayed "asleep" while she set up their cups for hot chocolate in the morning. She lined up three lawn chairs all in a row that they would sit in as they drank their hot chocolate, and she even had a place where they would cook the food in the morning. There they are in the middle of downtown San Diego–camping!
I laughed to myself watching Faith and Hannah do nothing but lay there having so much fun pretending to camp. Hannah must lay in her bed every night and be quiet--doing the same thing-- but never has this much fun! They were having just as much fun pretending to camp, as they would be if they were actually camping! I wondered what it would be like if we stayed like that as adults. Instead of having beach days for the church, we could just have pretend beach days. Can you just picture us setting lawn chairs out in the driveway and pretending to splash in the ocean or build sand castles?
Although it seems silly, this is how hope should be.
"For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Romans 8:24-25
"...rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;" Romans 12:12
When we are hoping for something in our lives, the hoping should almost be as fun as when you actually receive it. The scripture says we should be rejoicing in hope! We should be excitedly anticipating, yet eagerly waiting with perseverance. I’m not convinced I have found that balance yet, but maybe someday I will be able to have just as much fun hoping for my trip to Tahiti than when I actually go there!
Whatever it is you are hoping for in your life, don’t let it lose its luster. When Brandon and I were engaged, I was eagerly anticipating that wedding day. It couldn’t come fast enough. It was only after the time had already passed that I began to reflect on how fun and wonderful the process of anticipation and dreaming actually was. I don't get to buy bridal magazines and dream about wedding dresses anymore!
Instead of being impatient for that thing you have been hoping for – start rejoicing and have fun dreaming! Saying "I don’t want to get my hopes up" is because we are afraid of disappointment. However, Romans 5:5 says that hope does not disappoint!
We may not always get what we want, and we may have to experience some trials along the way but we can’t let life’s disappointments crush our childlike faith. In keeping that rejoicing hope and trust in the Lord, I believe the journey of hoping will be just as fun as the destination.
Thank you for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
Post a Comment! Questions for reflection and response:
1. What is something you hope for? Are you joyfully hoping or trying not to get your hopes up?
2. How do you keep childlike faith and rejoicing hope after experiencing a disapointment?
Tomorrows reading: 2 Samuel 18, Jeremiah 22, Romans 9-10
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Friday, July 31, 2009
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