For most of my life I have had ‘hopes’ for a life that was often better than the life I lived. As long as I had many years left to live and I had my ‘hopes’- whether realised or not, I had hope.
At my last milestone birthday I realised I had lived more years than I had left. I was overcome with grief at ‘hopes’ that were now lost.
I have lost loved ones and with them hopes I had for them and hopes with them. I have lost hopes I had for me and that has made me stumble and feel like I have also lost hope.
I have realised it is important for me to weep for the hopes of my heart- whether lost or never had. With God, I need not lose HOPE but I may need to grieve HOPES lost. What I have left is my life today.
I will still have hopes in my years remaining even though some of them may not eventuate. I am glad though that I need never lose hope, as long as I love and am loved by God. For love, faith and HOPE-our blessed hope in the Son of God will last forever. (1 Corinthians 13:13) And I can trust that he has good things for me both now and ‘ever.
John Piper says “Occasionally, weep deeply over the life you hoped for. Then, wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have. “
It is good to visit grief but not good to get stuck there. Perhaps like me, after you have wept deeply, it’s time to wash your face, trust God and embrace the life you have now.
photo by Tom Eversley @ Unsplash
John Piper quote http://www.desiringgod.org/embrace-the-life-god-has-given-you
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