It was during the drive back home to Nairobi from the safari we went on in Kenya. I was admiring the beautiful scenery as my two fellow safari-mini-van mates were both sleeping as the sun was setting across the landscape.
“The Hope That Lies In You” by The Glorious Unseen came on my iPod and in an instant my world was quickly turned around.
I was reminded of HOPE.
You see, life on the Race is not always the easiest. Just because I have given up 11 months of my life to travel the world to tell people about Jesus, doesn’t mean I am “holier” than you, or have my life more together, etc. I do have my struggles too. The World Race is probably the worst yet best 11 months of my life…at least these first 7 months have been that way.
This is hard for me to share with you, but I know many of you are currently struggling with this OR have probably struggled with this at some point OR will encounter this at some point in the future, so I am willing to be vulnerable with the world if it can provide HOPE for you too.
I have been battling with the questions of wondering if God is really real and at work and can really do miracles, or if perhaps it is just by chance that these things happen.
I have been going through a period of not seeing God “perform”. My teammates were seeing miracles performed left and right, people coming to Christ each time they shared Jesus with them, and just that God was showing up in their own lives, and I wondered where He was in mine. At least that is what I saw though my human eyes. And what did it feel like I was left with? It felt like nothing. People would prophecy over me and their words were nothing more specific other than words that would encourage any daughter of God. At least that is the way I chose to take it.
Or was I just perhaps being too critical and demanding?? Or is this perhaps only a period that God wants me to trust Him without having to see all that He can do for me? I’ve seen it over and over again, so why am I believing that all of that was just “coincidence”?
In “The Hope That Lies In You”, it talks about HOPE (you say, “yes, Carmen, obviously…hope is in the title of the song.”).
It talks about the HOPE that… heals, sparks dreams, stirs our souls (uncontrollably). But my favorite part of the song is the bridge that says,
“Through all the questioning, You’ve been the hope in me. Despite uncertainty, You’ve been the only constant thing. And when I’m struggling, You keep on loving me just the same.
THIS IS THE HOPE THAT LIES IN YOU.“
Amen, Amen, Amen!
This is what HOPE does to you! It keeps you going when things are tough and hard and seem like they are falling apart.
[[Or else I am sure that I, and more than likely you too, would be gone from this world by now, thinking we have no purpose to live. ..think about that. Why are you still here? You have a hope that you still have a purpose on this Earth.]]
I read a story in a book recently talking about an experiment that was done with rats. They put 3 rats in water to see how long they can swim. Two of the rats drowned after 4 hours. They took the third rat out of the water and allowed him to rest up for about a week, before placing him in the water again with 2 more rats. Again, the other 2 rats drowned after 4 hours while the rat who was saved the last time, swam for two days!!!
Yes, it is a hilarious story, but THAT is what HOPE does to you!
I have also been reading in Deuteronomy (yeah, I am a little behind in my 11-month Bible reading plan..hah…but I am working on catching up so no worries! hehe ).
I have been reading about the Israelites and how they had to be constantly reminded of all that God had done for them and where He had brought them, especially when they were discouraged and wondering where God was and even fearful of the days ahead. But just like them,
I need to constantly remind myself all that God is doing and has been doing, because… He’s been faithful all along.
He’s given me the HOPE to keep going. And I know you have a piece of that HOPE in YOU as well. Just keep believing and holding on to that Hope. He’ll come through. At least I’m still holding on to that and waiting patiently for God to show up again.
He’s coming. Just like He’s promised.
Oh God,
“COME DOWN. WE NEED YOUR HOPE TO COME DOWN. WE NEED YOUR GRACE TO POUR OUT. WE NEED YOUR LOVE TO SHINE DOWN.”
