“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a (NLT)
Hope is not Cancelled
As much as I loved teaching (and that’s a lot), I also loved the saying: “There’s no day like a snow day”! Receiving the early morning call notifying me that school was cancelled because of snow often led to a little celebratory dance that, if I do say so myself, rivaled any ever performed in an end zone! Those first moments were filled with anticipation about what I would do! Maybe I’d bake, watch movies, craft, or something else fun and relaxing. What I wouldn’t do was my normal housework or grading papers. There was just always something extra-special about the gift of an unexpected day at home!
Fast forward to 2020. We’ve had a few too many unexpected days at home, haven’t we? We find our normal life has been cancelled but there’s no celebrating and any anticipation has been replaced with anxiety as we wonder what we’re going to do. Gather with family and friends? Take that trip we’ve been planning? Attend in-person church services? If you’re like me, these decisions and many others like them have taken the fun right out of my days and are anything but relaxing! That’s why I’ve had to remind myself of what I’m NOT going to do: give up hope!
“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!”
Psalm 43:5 (NLT)
“Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.”
Romans 12:12 (CEV)
These have felt like cold, dark days and winter hasn’t even arrived yet. It’s hard to find our way as we slog through all the conflicting information, daily number updates, and just everyday life in the midst of a pandemic; but…the storms of life don’t cancel our Hope! Yes, we’ve had unexpected days at home and yet, if we stop and look, there have been times when they’ve been a gift, too. We may not feel like dancing, but we can try and be patient, never stop praying, and praise Him again because… There’s no day like…well, today, to put our trust in God’s plan.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Today’s post was written to the prompt “Cancel” shared at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I’m looking forward to clicking over and reading what others have written. I know you’d enjoy it too! I never know where these prompts will take my little mind but it seems I always end up with a lesson I need. These are difficult times and like everyone else I find myself discouraged. I hope the scriptures today will encourage you as they have me! Thank you for stopping in. I appreciate it more than you can ever know!