“I will pitch my tent in the land of hope.” Acts 2:26 The Message
“Hope is to the soul what breath is to the body – restorative and life-giving.”
My thoughts today are about the “land of hope.”
People can learn to live without a lot of things, but not live well nor live long without hope. Hope is to the soul what breath is to the body – essential, restorative, and life-giving. You live better and more fully each day by finding a reason for hope. The Bible describes this hope we have as being “like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our soul.” Hebrews 6:19 NLT. Hope does not mean that all will be as you wish; hope rests in the truth that everything will be according to God’s wisdom and will, and with His sufficient grace.
In the Fall of 2000 my Mom suffered a massive, cerebral hemorrhage and was not expected to live through the day. The neurosurgeon could offer us no hope. That first dreadful day stretched to difficult weeks; we loved her and stayed by her side, not daring to believe for much more than each precious minute. And then, after weeks of being able to do absolutely nothing for herself, and contrary to every medical prognosis and beyond explanation, she regained consciousness, became conversant, and recovered her appetite and ability to swallow. Day by day, a little more of her strength returned.
I remember well that morning in November when our love for her was joined by hope. Being at her bedside was suddenly much different. Each day brighter. Each point of her recovery more encouraging. For her remaining weeks, days were filled with memories and laughter. God graciously had given our family renewed hope.
King David is quoted in the New Testament, “I will pitch my tent in the land of hope!” Acts 2:26 The Message. Everybody has to live somewhere. David chose to live “in the land of hope.” When God, or others, go looking for you, where will you be found – in the land of doubt, despair, fear, discouragement, self pity? Are you dreading the future, or making plans with hope?
You can let your circumstance determine where you dwell, or you can choose to pitch your tent in such a place and such a way that every morning the first reality you see is the face of God and a brighter future. David expressed his experience this way, “I saw God before me at all time. Nothing can shake me; He’s right by my side. I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.” Acts 2:25-26 The Message.
Pitch your tent where you want your future to be found – in the providence of God! “May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV. The God of hope; what a wonderful description!
My prayer for you today is for your future to be filled with day-brightening hope.