Misplaced Hope

Ever experienced that tender ache in your heart, waiting on something for what feels like an eternity, wondering if it'll ever happen? I get it; it's tough. Too many mornings waking up, hoping today might be the day dreams come true, only to be met with disappointment.

Life's a journey, no doubt, filled with hopes and dreams. But let's be real – we often find ourselves pinning our hopes on the wrong things, like temporary circumstances, relationships, or achievements. And surprise, surprise, they can't handle the weight of our deepest longings.

This realization didn't come overnight; it took me years and a heartfelt conversation with God. The other night, under the stars, I asked Him outright, 'Will my petition ever get off the ground?' Instead of the usual hopeful whisper, I got a nudge, a gentle reminder: 'Sometimes, you misplace your hope.'

I felt the weight of that statement instantly. I'd been banking on what seemed like an amazing opportunity, crafting this whole map of how it'd play out. Good intentions, for sure, but maybe not exactly God's game plan. Sound familiar?

So, here's something I want you to hold onto – never stop hoping, seriously. God planted dreams and goals in us for a reason. But get this, sometimes the dream won't unfold as we had it in our heads because God's got a slightly different script. The crucial thing I learned is to place my hope in God's plan, not my own version of how things should go.

Now, let's get real about two areas where we often mess up our hope game:

Hope in the Temporary:

We're all guilty of hoping in stuff that's here today, gone tomorrow – success, money, or people's approval. Surprise, surprise, when they don't pan out, we're left feeling pretty low. The Bible's got some good advice on not misplacing our hope like that.

Hope in Our Plans:

Our big plans and dreams can easily become the main event. While having goals is great, hitching all our hopes on our strategies can get old real quick. Been there, done that – waking up with my mind already stressing about business and ministry. Turns out, I had this illusion of control, which just brought unnecessary stress. God's plans? Bigger and better. Trusting Him? That's where the lasting hope is at.

Putting our hope in God is like building on rock, not sand. His promises don't flake, and His love won't bail. When we shift our hope to Him, it changes things up big time. Life's challenges? We tackle 'em with resilience, knowing our trust is in the real deal.

So, let's take a minute to think about where we're dropping our hope. Time to reroute our hearts to the one constant source of hope – God. Letting go might not be a walk in the park, but sometimes you gotta keep placing that misplaced hope back at Jesus' feet. Keep saying out loud, 'I trust you, God. My hope's all in you.' Find strength in His promises, trusting that real, lasting hope is found in Him alone.

Love Sarah, xx.

*Thank you for journey once again with me. If you could take a moment to share this and encourage someone else today that would be amazing. Or leave a comment and let me know if you have been waiting on something for a while and have been wondering if maybe you’ve been hoping in your plan and not God’s.