Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

God Supplies the Hope We Crave {No Matter What Monday}

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rom 15.13

Last week’s verse reminded us that our Heavenly Father is the only source of unshakeable hope (Psalm 62:5).

 

But as I’ve already confessed, I struggle to place my hope solely in the Lord. I am constantly tempted to place my hope in something more tangible: my abilities, my wisdom, my people, my possessions.

 

No matter how hard I try, I can’t muster up a hope that is firmly in Christ alone. I know He is the only source of true, unfailing hope. But my heart is so fickle! I forget so easily. Like a clueless sheep, I become distracted and wander off in another direction. I need the Shepherd to gently reach out and bring me back to safety. I crave a hope that endures.

 

So I find comfort in Romans 15:13:

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

 

God Himself is the answer to our struggle with finding our hope in Him. He is the God of hope. Through the Holy Spirit, He fills us with joy and peace so we can enjoy bountiful hope. The hope He gives will never run out and will never fail. The hope He gives endures forever, through all circumstances.

 

No matter what you face this week, God supplies the hope you need to have lasting joy and peace.

 

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When We Slam into the Wall of God’s “Wait”

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When We Slam into the Wall of God's

 

There’s something I want.

 

My desire is materialistic, and no small matter, but almost everyone I’ve told agrees it’s a great idea. (I have very convincing arguments.)

 

Only one obstacle stands in the way: my husband isn’t ready for me to have it.

 

And I hate being told “not right now.”

 

When my husband first started voicing concerns, I didn’t pay much attention. I only heard the messages I was speaking to myself: “You deserve to be happy. There’s no reason not to fix this for yourself.”

 

Determined to get what I wanted, I repeatedly slammed into the wall of my husband’s hesitation. Arguments began. I trampled over his opinions, armed with the certainty that I was right.

 

But rather than crumbling my husband’s resolve, the Lord started to crumble mine. You probably know the feeling—those little bursts of conviction working on your heart.

 

I decided to invite an older, wiser friend to lunch and ask her advice. When I explained the situation, I had a feeling she wouldn’t say, “Just ignore what your husband thinks. Get what you want.”

 

And I was right.

 

My friend gently pointed out my wrong thinking, selfish attitude, discontentment, and lack of gratitude for what God’s already given me. She reminded me that I can trust God to give me good things. I can wait on Him, because His ways are perfect.

 

Did I know these truths? Absolutely.

 

Was I acting like it? Not one bit.

 

As we spoke, God lovingly pried these desires from my hands and placed them into His. I’m still tempted to grab them back sometimes. I start to worry that He won’t ever give me something I think is good for me.

 

In Matthew 6, we read about God’s care for the grass of the field and the birds of the air. And Jesus calls us out in our unbelief: “O you of little faith . . . do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:31-32, emphasis mine).

 

Here’s the bottom line: Can I trust that what the Lord gives me is always best? Can I believe that what He withholds was never mine to begin with? Can I have faith that my heavenly Father will give me everything I need?

 

What do you want that God isn’t giving? Are you struggling to trust His provision? Will you join me in learning to trust that God gives us all we need? Can we put our good desires into His hands and leave them there, waiting on His timing and His perfect ways?

 

Let’s celebrate both that God can be trusted and that His grace covers all our unbelief as we struggle to trust Him more fully.

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Sharing God’s Story ~ Guest post at Over A Cup

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Henley family 2011“I’ll be a little disappointed if this lump isn’t cancer,” I told my husband after returning home from Bible study in October 2010. In that evening’s lesson on Isaiah 12, our teacher exhorted us to glorify God in front of a watching world by trusting him in the midst of suffering. As I scribbled notes furiously, I couldn’t help thinking of the biopsy I had scheduled for later in the week. My faithful Father was preparing me for the outcome by showing me His purpose in suffering: That His name would be glorified by my dependence on Him and continued praise of His character.

Less than a week later, I received a diagnosis of angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer with a five-year survival rate of 30%. I was a busy mom of three young kids—my boys were 6 and 4, and my baby girl was 18 months old. I had expected to grow old with my husband and see my kids grow into adulthood. And suddenly, I was fighting to see my 35th birthday.

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I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the story of God’s faithfulness in my life at Over A Cup today. Click over there to finish reading!

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Only God Gives Unshakeable Hope {No Matter What Monday}

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PS 62.5Where does your hope come from?

I know the Sunday school answer to this question is “Jesus.” But I also know my own heart and my tendency to want something more tangible in which to place my hope.

If our marriage is failing, we might place our hope in couples counseling or a strategy for changing our spouse. If we are struggling financially, we might place our hope in working overtime toward a promotion at work. If we are battling health issues, we might place our hope in a knowledgeable doctor or the statistical outcome of a specific treatment. If we are stressed about the political climate and the direction of our country, we may place our hope in getting our candidate into office.

Godly counsel, diligence, knowledgeable doctors, sound leadership . . . none of these things are bad. There’s nothing wrong with pursuing these things. But they shouldn’t be our source of abiding hope, because the hope they give will be short-lived. They won’t satisfy our deepest fears and doubts regarding our struggles.

The only hope that will truly satisfy is our hope in the Lord.

Psalm 62:5 says: “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” 

No matter what we face this week, our Heavenly Father is the only source of rock-solid hope and unshakeable salvation.

 

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