HOPE AS AN ANCHOR
Making the connection.
Part 3 of 3
Restless, I turned on my pillow. Panic, and I turn again covering my head with the sheets as if to shelter from some impending doom. My mind races faster. Spinning out of control. What if…? So many, “What ifs?”! Fear grips me and the darkness of the night magnifies the despair.
If only Psalm 4:6-8 were true: “You have put gladness [JOY] in my heart… I will both lie down in PEACE, and sleep…”
My experience in the moment is telling me it’s not possible. JOY and PEACE in this adversity? Are you kidding me? It hasn’t changed yet. What makes me believe it will change tomorrow? Hopelessness.
But, consider the power of connecting your experience with God’s promise. How might a supernatural change of perspective pop the cork to a flood of PEACE and JOY allowing you to overflow in HOPE?
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13
HOPE is the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to connect our experiences to His promises.
The previous two Inspirations reveal that HOPE starts with a relationship with the God of HOPE and that believing His promises is more than a cognitive agreement that His word is true. The completion of belief is acting upon it in TRUST.
The God of HOPE, who never lies, has spoken to us great and precious promises by which we can have HOPE like a sure and steadfast anchor of the heart (Hebrews 6:19-20).
“…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” ~ 2 Peter 1:4
Imagine you are a boat. HOPE is your anchor. The chain connecting your boat to the anchor is the promise. And the rock in which the anchor is secured is the very God of HOPE Himself – Jesus Christ.
Now imagine your boat (your life) disconnected from the anchor (hope). To disconnect from the anchor means the chain (promise) has detached from your boat. Drifting, aimless, tossed by the waves, and blown by every wind – confused, lost, scared. Detached from the promises of God, floundering, searching, longing for hope. For joy. For peace.
The moment when the Holy Spirit supernaturally connects your experiences (past, present, and future) to His promises – that is the instant when HOPE begins. That is when you make the connection.
When the Holy Spirit supernaturally connects your experiences to His promises – that is the instant when HOPE begins.
Hope in Your Past
What if you connected God’s promises to your past experiences? What if you could reflect on your past without regret or guilt? Without feeling distant and less loved by God? What if your past no longer wielded power over the present or had control of your future? What if you could be set free from the chains of condemnation? What if you could find HOPE for your future because God’s promises have changed the perspective of your past? What if the past no longer defined your identity?
There are promises to connect to your past. The power of the Holy Spirit will make it real for you.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
Your past is no longer a whip to condemn you. It is a testimony of HOPE in the God who heals and redeems.
Your past – the rugged dusty path Jesus walked to find you. It’s the flesh-shredding whip. The slivered wooden cross. The thorny crown. The piercing nails. Your past collided with Jesus. His love upended sin’s slavery to set you free. Your past is beautiful GRACE. HOPE!
NOTE: I have prepared a free downloadable and printable booklet “Hope Promises” that features scripture promises for the past, present, and future.
HOPE PROMISES
FREE DOWNLOAD
A printable 10 page PDF booklet with beautiful photos referencing Scripture promises to provide HOPE for your past, present, and future experiences.
Hope in the Present
Connect to HOPE now via His promises. What if you are not forgotten? What if your pain is not endless? What if you do make a difference? What if you are not abandoned? What if you are important?
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 4:10
Like Esther, you were made for such a time as NOW! A change of perspective that comes from grasping the promises of God, anchored to HOPE will allow you to see that you really are “living the dream”. For real! On the cross, Jesus saw you as you are – now! He died and rose again so you could live abundantly – NOW. You are His dream – His JOY – NOW! Connect to His promises and start LIVING! PEACE, JOY – HOPE!
Hope for Your Future
What if you could face your future without fear? What if the loud and scary “What ifs…?” were gagged? What if anxiety didn’t burglarize your sleep? What if apprehension’s spell was broken? What if you were no longer crippled by arthritic anguish? Health, resources, relationships, children, grandchildren, loss, suffering, death – looking ahead can be overwhelming, breathtaking – paralyzing even.
Connect your future to His promises.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” ~ 1 Peter 1:3-4
Fear and worry are replaced with JOY and PEACE by embracing a future connected to the promises of the God of HOPE! A HOPE-FULL future! The perspective with which you view your future directly influences the way you live now. Jesus, your God of Hope is the same for you yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His faithfulness yesterday? It’s there tomorrow too. And His mercies come to you BRAND NEW every morning all the days of your life (Lamentations 3:23 and Psalm 23:6).
Overflowing HOPE – your God of Hope – He has the power, He has the will, He has YOU. Holds YOU. Breathes life in YOU. Creates of YOU a picture of BEAUTY – of His image. HOPE. PROMISES. PEACE. JOY.
He who connects your life pieces with His great and precious promises fills you with JOY and PEACE in believing! HOPE!
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
FEATURED INSPIRATIONAL PHOTO
“Divine Rest”
“Anchor of Hope”
This freight liner anchored near Westport, Washington was in the queue awaiting its cargo. It towered out of the narrow passage leaving a surreal impression. As I raised my camera, a pod of pelicans flew into the composition bringing movement.
This photo is available as an inspirational wall hanging with the caption “Anchor of Hope”.
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