My Hope Is

I went to visit Michael last night.  It was unexpected and unplanned because  Wednesdays are very busy and I usually do my best not to add any extras.  Yesterday was no exception.  I started off with a meeting in the morning and then put in my usual afternoon time planning and preparing for Hangtime, the after school program that I direct.  Hangtime was extra special because it’s Missions Week at our church so we had extra visitors and overall it was a wonderful afternoon.  But then immediately after, I left to drive Christian and a friend out to Brentwood (which is a good 40 minutes away) for a two hour evening travel volleyball practice.

After dropping off the boys, I drove over to Chipotle.  And while eating my dinner there, I  did a little research and realized I was only 10 minutes away from Michael’s rehab.  I’d been feeling sad and discouraged this week when thinking about our friend, but realized that a nice visit was probably just what I needed.

When I got there, it was just me and Michael.  He was awake so I pulled up a chair and sat down so we could talk.  Michael is still working through stomach issues, and at times during our visit I could see he was uncomfortable.  But overall, it was good.  It was good to see him, good to sit and talk to him and good to know that even though I can’t do a lot of things to help him, I can still sit and hold his hand and be a friend who loves and cares about him.

Life is going to bring discouragements and difficult events that throw huge roadblocks in our path.  Many times, well, most times, when these things happen, we realize that we have very little control.  It’s a hard and unsettling feeling and resting in it for too long often brings feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair.

But friends, I’ve learned that even in the most impossible of situations, there is always hope.  And finding that hope, means finding life and rest and joy and peace (just like the old hymn “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” says).

I’m not a preacher.  To be honest, I’m mostly a photographer who likes to make my words look pretty with pictures.  But if you’re looking for some encouragement because you’re facing some pretty impossible things yourself, you have to check out this ongoing series from Andy Stanley and Northpoint Community Church.  I listened to The Reluctant Hero today and oh, it brought me so much hope.  Because it’s about the story of David and Goliath and there have been times in Michael’s story that that exact story has come to mind.  It’s powerfully good.

And if you’re not really the online sermon listening type, let me sum up the most powerful part of it.  David, the unlikely giant slayer/king/poet (quite the combo, if you ask me), who faced an seemingly impossible situation, later wrote in Psalm 25, “In you Lord, my God, I put my trust.  My hope is in you all day long.”  This past week, my hope has been in what I’ve seen.  What I’ve felt.  And it’s really not been that hopeful after all.  But today, I needed to hear and be reminded, that my hope and my trust is indeed, in the Lord.  And no matter the situation, no matter how impossible outcomes seem, I can see this truth clearly, I can act in confidence and I can walk humbly knowing this.  I know I can’t control the outcome.  But I can keep trusting and hoping in God while I declare these truths, “In you Lord, my God, I put my trust.  My hope is in you all day long.”