Hope

Hope: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust

Hope is not lost.

Recently, a young child I work with asked me to help him search for a “lucky charm”, or a four leaf clover. He had high hopes that we’d find one.

But I knew better. So I patiently explained to him that finding a four leaf clover was a hard task to undertake as they were very rare.

And wouldn’t you know that as soon as those words came out of my mouth, I looked down and saw a four leaf clover.

I had never found one before, but here I was holding one… right after telling a child that there was no hope in doing so.

Just like how this real-life scenario played out, we also experience moments like this in our own lives. Granted, it’s probably more serious than finding a four leaf clover, but this was a big deal for a little five year old.

And similarly, our experiences are big in our eyes. Maybe we’re having to believe God financially; maybe we need help with a situation; maybe we need to trust Him with some things; or maybe we’re suffering emotionally or physically.

Whatever it is, it’s first important to know what God says about our circumstances and problems, and to have faith that God is going to walk alongside us and help us.

But then we can’t let that hope go.

How often do we let the enemy, other (maybe well-meaning) people, or even ourselves try to discourage our hope — our faith?

In my experience, a lot. 

Hebrews 10:23 says this: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

He who promised is faithful.

Read that again.

He who promised is faithful.

Our God is faithful!

So let’s hold onto hope unswervingly, and let it be an anchor for our souls. For we know that we can trust our God.

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Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license. 

An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life. 

Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her. 

You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige