When Hope Is Drifting

 Dear Beloved,

You can't , but God CAN. 

Sometimes hope starts to diminish when we place more focus on our weakness, than God's strength. When life comes hard and exposes how feeble we are, hopelessness tends to come right after. We look at the mounting problems in our lives and hear the enemy's voice reminding us that we don't have the power to fix any of our problems. Beloved, God wants you to know YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE POWER BECAUSE HE DOES. 

I've been reading a book that has been so timely for me in this season, it's called Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown. It's an amazing book that follows the spiritual journeys of four different women that are in very different places in their relationships with God. One of the character's name is Meg. Meg is severely bound by fear and anxiety. She has no confidence in herself and isn't even sure if she's worth God's love. Meg starts attending a weekend retreat class to grow her faith. During a conversation with the teacher, she shared some of her fears and started naming all the things she couldn't do. Her teacher, Katherine, responded with the word below: 

"When Jesus spoke about the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) he was talking about people who were totally helpless and entirely dependent upon God to supply all their needs. That kind of weakness is a place of blessing, Meg. It's a GIFT to be able to say, 'I can't, but God can!'..Actually, that's one of my favorite prayers. I'll inhale saying the words 'I can't' and exhale saying the words 'You can, Lord' over and over again throughout the day. Those simple words help me keep going in hope and faith when the way gets hard." 

(Sensible Shoes, p. 64) 

In the excerpt above we see two things happening. The first is that it's OKAY to acknowledge that YOU CAN'T. The enemy is notorious for speaking facts, but not the whole truth, that's how he disguises himself in our own voice. The devil will keep telling you how weak you are or unable to solve the problem you're facing, this is a fact, but he torments you when he doesn't tell you the whole truth: GOD CAN. It's not wrong to be weak. It's not wrong to not have the answers for your troubles. We are feeble humans that were never designed to be strong, but completely reliant on an all powerful God. We even see this in scripture where David writes:

Who do I have in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

(Psalm 73:24-25) 

Our weakness or inability is no surprise to God. I encourage you to overcome the enemy by praying the WHOLE TRUTH beloved. You may not have the physical, emotional, spiritual, financial ability to solve your life's problems, but GOD DOES. God is strength, healer, provider, restorer, and redeemer. Take back your hope by letting the enemy know your awareness of your weakness AND your awareness of God's strength. You can do that with the simple prayer detailed above: Inhale "I can't", exhale "You can, Lord". That's the second observation in the Sensible Shoes excerpt , the most powerful prayer can be said in the least of words. You don't have to pray a whole bible chapter to use the sword of the Spirit God has given you, all you need is the WHOLE TRUTH. Pray this simple, whole truth over and over throughout your day and I'm confident you will increase in hope. 

May your hope be in Jesus Christ,

Anreka

Tell me how this Hope Letter helped you in the comments below!

Are you struggling to maintain HOPE? Herpes To Hope Lockscreens will help you see daily reminders of God's hope and help you when those negative thoughts come! Get your Hope Lockscreen TODAY! Click Below!

I WANT HOPE LOCKSCREENS

Continue

If You're Tired, God Is Coming

 Dear Beloved,

Am I alone in saying this year has left me tired? It just seems like one event after another whether in our nation or the world. The year of 2020 has presented many opportunities for hope to be hijacked or stolen. In spite of all the attempts, I praise God that He brings comfort through His word. I was reading Isaiah 35 and the Lord understood exactly how I was feeling. If you're tired, He understands how you feel too. 

Isaiah was a prophet in the Old Testament of the Bible and the book he wrote is FILLED with prophetic words from God. The bulk of the prophecy speaks about judgement and punishment to come on the nation of Israel. Israel gave into worshiping false gods and idols, there was no care for the orphans or the widows, they sought help from kings who worshiped false gods, than from the God who saved them from trouble so many times before, and a multitude of other sins. God pleaded with them in Isaiah 1 saying: 

Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of the orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Come now, let's settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If only you obey me, you will have plenty to eat.  But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. (Isaiah 1:16-20)  

Many people skim the Old Testament and only point out the judgement hand of God, but they don't take the time to READ all the pleading God did with His people. He warned, begged, and cried for them to repent and turn back to Him. God so desperately desired for His creation to live righteously in the love He designed for them to live in (just like He does with us today). However, as we read through Isaiah we see the Lords requests were brutally ignored and the rampage of sin and evil continued (Isaiah 9:9-13). God is HOLY and RIGHTEOUS and cares more about the eternity of our souls than our comfort. If that means sending judgement and affliction to interrupt the deadly patterns of sin, so that humility and repentance will evolve, then that's what He'll do. In the book of Isaiah, that's what we see happening. 

However, in the midst of all the gloomy punishment that was to come, God still sent promises of hope. Israel was in no way deserving of these promises, but that was the grace of God. He would allow their enemies to win in war against them, but only TEMPORARILY. There will be a time where God will step in and cut off the hand of the enemy and devour him! In Isaiah 35 God gives a whole promise of restoration to the nation of Israel. 

Yes there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts "Be strong and do not fear for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. HE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU. 

Some say 2020 has been a judgement of God in response to America's sin, some say it's all attacks from the devil. I don't know for sure what it is, could be a mix of both, but what I do know is God see we are TIRED and WEAK just like those in Israel. In response Israel, He gave a promise that He will restore and to not fear because He WILL destroy the enemy and He IS coming to save. This promise applies TODAY. too! This brought my heart gladness beloved! God's word is living! Whether it's the national health crisis, racial injustice, spiritual hardship, financial trouble, physical illness, God says HE'S COMING TO SAVE. I don't know what may be making you tired in this season, but I pray you grab hold to the hope of God that says He sees your tiredness and He's coming, beloved, He's coming. 

May your hope be in Jesus Christ,

Anreka

Tell me how this Hope Letter helped you in the comments below!

Are you struggling to maintain HOPE? Herpes To Hope Lockscreens will help you see daily reminders of God's hope and help you when those negative thoughts come! Get your Hope Lockscreen TODAY! Click Below!

I WANT HOPE LOCKSCREENS

Continue