Please don’t let my hope become shame.

Have you ever had hope well up big inside? You dared to dream big and you believed to your core that God winked at you with approval.
You just knew (without seeing how) that this BIG Hopeful scenario was going to be a part of your life story.

Did you let yourself get excited? Did you begin to take steps forward to see this good thing come to pass?

Uh oh… Did you dare to tell someone close about this BIG Hopeful dream and how God had given you a thumbs up?

Has the road through waiting been long and bumpy?

I wonder if anyone besides me is afraid…
That they heard wrong.
That they misunderstood God’s nod.
That they jumped ahead of the game plan.
That they missed the opportunity.
That they took a wrong turn.

I wonder if anyone besides me wishes they never shared the dream. I wonder if anyone besides me feels like they’ve opened themselves to embarrassment.

I wonder if anyone besides me feels like their hopeful belief shared with others will end in their shame.

God’s word jumps in at this point…

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3‭-‬4 NIV

In the Bible, we find forerunners to be our example. The people of history who remind us of the realities of hearing God, saying yes to God, believing God, and finally persevering through the details.

Abraham and Sarah, who were promised a child and generations of family at a very advanced age. And how about Noah, who along with his family, spent their days building a giant ship in preparation for the day the first rain began to fall.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 NIV

Joseph, one of the youngest sons of Jacob, and Esther, both regular people through whom God brought protection, provision and victory. They inspire me to persevere in hope.

Surely they all wondered and asked many of my same questions. But they pushed through and I get to read about the results. They were not put to shame for their belief and hope. They dared to dream BIG and suffered through the process.

And King David. I probably appreciate him the most for his willingness to bare his soul toward God. Not only are we told that he conversed with God honestly with great passion and all the emotions, but we are able to read his honest prayers word for raw word.

His private journals were left behind and opened up for all to read. To this day, we get to be encouraged in our prayers through the questions, the suffering, the angst and perseverance of David and others in his company through the Psalms.

So, what if today, we put our eyes on Jesus? What if we take our questions and insecurities to Him?

How about we follow David’s example and tell Jesus everything we’re thinking and feeling? How about letting Him clear the fog, calm the storm within and then we listen for His assurance.

I want Jesus to open the eyes of my heart. I want to see that Jesus is alive, reigning as King in heaven until He returns for us here. I want His assurance that He is with me and we’re not off course. I want His infusion of Holy Spirit strength and energy to push me through the waiting with belief and hope.

I need Jesus to remind me that faith in Him will not end in my shame. His glory covers His path and His plans. And we get to walk with Him wherever He goes under the Glorious Light of His presence.

Your faith will not put you to shame.

Eyes on Jesus and Shine,

~Lisa