When the Day Gets Rough, Have a Little Hope

We have all been there: the car breaks down, the children are sick, the dog ate your favorite shoe, you spilled coffee all over your favorite outfit, you aren't certain where you're going to find money to pay the latest unexpected bill, someone you care about is facing a major illness or hardship, your marriage feels like it is falling apart. You feel like you can't seem to get ahead. Each one of us have faced tough days. Some of us may even wonder if we will ever see a break in the storm. Let's be real, it can be overwhelming at times.

Dear one, you are not alone. I have been where you are as have others. The good news is that you will live to talk about it another day. My prayer is that you will be able to talk about how God was your hope during this difficult time in your life. To be able to talk about hope, it helps to know exactly what hope entails.

Merriam Webster defines hope as a verb to desire with expectation, to expect with confidence.

Picture holding on to God with a desire of expectation and having confidence in His love for us, His beloved children. Knowing that He is always with you (Matthew 28:20). Knowing that He who started working in you will see that work through until completion (Philippians 1:6). Knowing that in this world we will face trouble but He died, He rose again, and He overcame the world (John 16:33). Knowing His love for you is longer, higher, wider, and deeper than you could ever fathom (Ephesians 3:18)

The Bible,  says this about hope:"...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5 NIV)

Romans 12:12 also talks about hope: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (NIV)

Anticipation, trust, faith, belief, expectation, confidence, promise, desire, reliance, assurance, zeal, craving, hunger, drive, love, passion, yearning, foretaste, joy and certainty are all synonymous with hope.

Are you seeing a pattern here, my friend?

Because we live in a sinful world, we are going to face trials. What God wants us to hold onto during these trials is the hope that we have in Him because of His immense love for us. While we are enduring sufferings, God is fighting our battles for us (Exodus 14:14) and He is working in us refining us like gold (Zechariah 13:9) and helping to build character. While we are going through these difficult times, we need to be communicating with Him in fervent prayer but it doesn't end there. When our trial is over, we need to keep praying, keep seeking Him, joyfully yearning for more of Him, and telling others of His wondrous love, hope and grace.

My Story by Addison Road



Free to be Me by Francesca Battistelli