For me it was all about the children yes, but even more than that it was about HOPE.
Encouraging hope in the hearts and lives of those who were perhaps struggling to hope or wondering what there was to hope for. And it’s still my focus.
But what does hope look like in your life? What is it? What does it mean to you?
To me it means the difference between a life of joy or a life of misery. If you’ve ever been without hope in your life, you’ll know what I mean by misery.
Now don’t get me wrong, because I understand that sometimes life comes along and knocks all hope out of you. And that’s not ok, but it’s understandable to feel hopeless sometimes. But it’s what comes after that, that is the key to a life of joy.
I’ve had several times in my life when I gave up all hope.
One was when I was severely ill as a teenager. I was bed bound, unable to move or walk, needed a full time carer, unable to even sit up on my own, was having 14 seizures a day and was told I would never walk again. I was trapped in a body that didn’t work. And I wanted to die.
Another time was when my Mum passed away. My dearest, closest friend. The loss of her made me want to leave this life also.
Another time was when the years of abuse I’d suffered as a child, and the self hatred I had because of it, caught up with me. And I believed it was better I no longer lived.
In each of these times, I made a plan to throw my life away.
And each time, something stopped me. And each time a crack or glimpse of light, of hope, caused my heart to think ‘maybe just maybe’. Or what if there is something good to come?
So I want to speak to you right now, if you’ve lost hope, if you can see no way forward. I want to encourage you that your current situation does not determine your future. And what if there is a better life for you than this?
Don’t you want to see what might happen if you allow hope to arise?
I’m now married with a daughter, and I look at her and think she would not exist if I had given up. And not only that, but I would never have gotten to experience the joy and wonder I feel at being her mother, if I had given up.
Hope starts out as a delicate flower, but if nurtured, encouraged, even spoken to, it can grow into something so strong….it can grow into faith. And faith is an undeniable belief.
I’ve put my undeniable belief in a God who gives hope. And then the hope you put back in Him, it says in the Bible “does not disappoint” or “does not put us to shame”. And here’s what the God I believe in, we believe in at The Purim Trust says about the restoration He wants to bring to your life.
I’m paraphrasing this from Isaiah 61 in the Bible:
To heal your brokenheart To proclaim freedom over your captivity To set you free from your prison of darkness To proclaim favour over your life To comfort you in your mourning To provide for you in your grief To bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes The oil of joy instead of mourning A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair To rebuild the ancient ruins in your life and restore the places that have been devastated To renew and restore the ruins of your life That instead of your shame you will receive double honour Instead of disgrace you will rejoice in an inheritance That everlasting joy would be yours
When you put your hope in Him, the hope you want to throw away, these are all the things God wants to do in your life.
Hope is one of the most powerful tools you will ever have. So….don’t you want to see what happens if you keep hoping and you hope in Him? So do I. Hang in there. The best is yet to come.
