Behold, the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love.
Psalm 33:18
When we choose to put our hope in God, He sees us. He looks at us, and I firmly believe He's smiling. When I choose hope it means I'm not trying to manipulate my circumstances, I'm waiting on God to move in them.
Hope is the guarantee that I’m seen. I don’t have to be the loudest or the best looking, the smartest or the nicest. God's eyes are on me when I choose hope. I'm taking some liberty here, but I think that when He sees us choosing hope in Him over manipulation, He's also smiling.
Sometimes I don't even think I know when I am manipulating, I'm just trying to "fix things. I need an awareness of where I am placing my hope, is it in me, or God. Because if I am placing my hope in me I'm going to feel the pressure, If I'm placing my hope in God I can feel peace. So let me ask you, How are you feeling right now?
This isn't a question that I am just asking you. I need to ask myself several times a day because the lie that I need to make things happen for me, or for my children creeps into my moments like fog. It just kind of rolls in, and I don't always know where it came from.
If we look just a little further in this psalm, verse 22 gives us a great prayer:
"Let your steadfast love be upon us, O LORD,
even as we hope in you."
Choosing hope is like stepping into His steadfast love. It's upon us, like sunshine that cuts the fog and enlightens our faces.
I am going to practice chasing down hope instead of chasing my anxieties. Who's with me? Let's catch it and not let go.
There is a familiar verse in 1Corinthians 13:13, I bet you will recognize it, but you might be surprised that our guest word makes the list. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three: but the greatest of these is love." There are three things that I can take to heaven with me: faith, hope, and love. They are what abides. Of course the greatest of these is love, but I don't think hope gets enough credit.
I think that God wants us not just to have faith and believe Him, but to be encouraged by that belief. In hope, he wants us to hold on to the encouragement that faith can produce.
I think it makes Him proud when I recognize where my hope belongs and I choose Him over my own efforts to "fix" my life.
When we choose to take our hands off of our circumstances, and instead place our hand in His, it has to make Him proud. Holding His hand gives me the courage to boast and Hebrews 3:6 gives us permission to do just that. It encourages us to "hold fast our confidence and boasting in our hope" Hebrews 3:6.
Father, help me release my grip on my day with all of its situations and worries, and put my effort into holding your hand instead. Help me look up and be thankful that Your gaze is on me as I choose hope. You have all things under control, and you never let go of my hand.
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