Mindy Lee Hopman

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NASB)

At this time last year we were returning from a family trip to Africa where my husband’s childhood memories merged with the new memories of our own children.

We saw, we experienced, we served, we returned, and my heart was heavier than it had ever been.  It was sad because we left a place and people that we all fell in love with again, but it was heavy because I was anticipating what was to come.

We were traveling home to move.

We had put off thinking about the move and packing our home until after the trip to Africa.

I knew it was time to face reality.  We were leaving everything we had helped to grow for the past 13 years.  Our hearts were attached deeply.  In a boarding school environment, you grow to love your school family as if it is your own.  It was going to be hard to leave the people who helped us raise our children in both our school and our sweet church.  May they always know how much they mean to us. 

God was doing a new thing for us in 2014.  My husband’s new job had been announced, and we had to move forward, regardless of how much I wanted to dig in my heels and stay in the comfort of the familiar.

This season of our lives has been represented by one word: HOPE.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope. Acts 2:26 (NIV)

This one word kept our focus on The Word during this busy, uncomfortable season.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NIV)

When I focused on The Word everything else fell into place because Jesus is our Living Hope.

When I took my eyes off of Him, I was overwhelmed by distractions and I had to keep myself from drowning in a sea of discouragement.

When all of the pieces seemed as though they were falling apart, HOPE was what I held onto, and He began to put the pieces back together in His perfect way.

Hope filled us with peace in the bittersweet tension… Bittersweet tension is when you are living your life fully each day, and in your heart you know there is so much more to come.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? Romans 8:24 (NIV)

When everything familiar was gone, God reminded us that we are His and in Him we are BELOVED, CHOSEN, KNOWN, REDEEMED, and SEALED for His glory.

The haze was thick for a little while.  It made all of us uncomfortable.  However, even though it was hard to see, His peace was always present.

So I will call upon Your name, and keep my eyes above the waves.  When oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace, for I am Yours and You are mine.  Oceans by Hillsong

Hope taught us: Change is certain. Christ is constant.

Hope gave us confidence to weather the storm, because God does not leave jobs unfinished.  He will complete what He started in your life.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me.  Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior. Oceans by Hillsong

When we “fix” our eyes on Him, He fills our hearts with love, joy, and peace and labels a chapter of our story… Hope.

Hope doesn’t abound in a place or things, Hope abounds in a person.

Hope replaces fear and worry, and when we place our hope in Him, He fills our hearts with everlasting JOY!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this season of our life in which you have gently guided us to trust you completely by placing our hope in You.  We know that true hope is only found in You.  We praise You for the promises which we have seen fulfilled this year.  We praise You for the adversity we faced in the midst of seeing them fulfilled, because they helped us to see a glimpse of You.  Thank You for drawing us deeper.  May we continue to keep our eyes “fixed” on You, our Living Hope.  When hope abounds in our lives, we are filled with love, peace, and JOY!  We praise You for the everlasting JOY with which we will begin this new season! 
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Reflect & Respond:
~ Do you have a word that will help you focus on The Word for this season of your life?

Basking in His Light

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