Your Hope
I stood at the kitchen counter and I watched the water drizzle out of the tap. I was filling the sink to wash dishes but my absent mindedness resulted in a soap explosion. Some days, the goodness of God and the ugliness of this world are so in-congruent I can hardly stand it. I am a fixer. And I can’t fix it.
Standing there with soap spuds rising without my notice in the overflowing sink – I helplessly ask God, why?
The hurting is so great.
And it’s everywhere.
And I can’t fix it.
And I remember that He is the fixer.
I am reminded: to FEEL, not FIX
It is good to feel compassionately, but we need not fix.
There on the counter-top, just behind the gushing tap, is a small, dying marigold. In fact, it’s the most pathetic withered thing you’ve likely seen. But it’s not dead. And I hear God saying: water the one.
And I stop the spouting of water and soap and I pull that pathetic hurting thing under the steady stream of water and the wet disappears into the cracked dirt.
I didn’t make the water.
I didn’t dig the well.
I simply moved that feeble plant into the same stream that I depend on, too.
That’s all I did.
I need to stay focused as I hold the tiny pot under the water, or the water doesn’t get where it needs to go. My thoughts wander and the water goes with my distracted mind.
I am reminded: to FOCUS, not FLOAT
If I don’t focus on Hope, my mind will float elsewhere.
To focus means to direct one’s attention or efforts.
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,
set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”
– 1 Peter 1:13
When I focus on grace, I remember the source of the water.
Grace fills every broken down, busted up, splintered dream and speaks peace over every disappointed or confused thought.
I am reminded: to DIRECT, not DISSECT
We live in the space of grace when we set our hope on the goodness of God, right in the midst of mess. We don’t need to over-analyze or dissect problems. Instead, when The Fixer turns on the tap, we can simply direct every crusty flower petal person to the same stream we depend on for life. Here, we find the true source of Hope. We find exactly what we have always been looking for … Or perhaps it is better said, we find who we have always been looking for. Hope does have a name – and He promises you this:
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
– Deuteronomy 31:6 MSGFeel, don’t fix.
Focus, don’t float.
Direct don’t dissect.And let Hope overflow… He will not leave you.
