walk on
Sometimes I prefer to wallow instead of walk.
Wallowing is easier. It doesn’t really require effort from my end. I just float. But with each passing minute, I’m actually sinking deeper into the murkiness, making it that much harder to climb out of it.
It takes a conscious effort, a decision, to walk instead of wallow. To press on when I want to just sit. To move forward when all I want to do is keep things the way they are. To take another step when my foot feels too heavy to lift.
If I’m hoping in Him, I won’t grow tired in my walking. My endurance is fueled by my hope in Him. So when I am feeling walk-weary, I need to check my hope tank. When it’s running low, I need to remind myself: Put your hope in God.
I’m wrestling with that concept as I try to figure out what that really means. Telling myself to hope in God doesn’t seem sufficient to actually make it happen. It helps, and it serves as a challenging reminder. But that can’t be it.
How do I build up hope that’s diminished? I don’t have the answer. But I need to do what I know: Remind myself. Ask God for help to hope. Chew on passages that describe His character. Be strengthened through the encouragement of others. Take time for a selah.
When I hope in Him, I won’t be disappointed. When I hope in Him, I can’t help but walk instead of wallow.
Put your hope in God and walk on. I’m right beside you.
[from a post on this day last year]
Good stuff! I’m all about hope… If we have no hope then what is there? A few years ago, I don’t remember what was going on, but God told me that if I had no hope I didn’t know His character. So I always remember that in tough situations, the character of God is hope, among other things, but hope is one of them! And if I serve Him then there’s always hope, always something to look to to get me through! Walk on friend! :)
@PrudyChick says:
Thank you for sharing your heart. Hope is such a fickle thing. I think mostly because we, like you said, take our eyes of God. In those times we should press into Him even more. It’s hard. Like you said it’s easy to wallow. Last week I went through a very mild case of “depression. I called it the sads. I was extremely melancholy. And for some reason when my mood would start to lift I pressed myself back to the state of being depressed. I’m praying that He draws you in and up. That He wraps you in His encouragement, grace, and peace.
He will hold your hand and guide you through every season in life. And as a reminder of His love he will send girlfriends like me to walk beside you as well. Life is always better with girlfriends by your side. Have a great day Alece!
@mandythompson says:
Love these words.
Not so much loving these: Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
I’ve been doing something different for my “quiet time” this year. And, funny thing, the word “hope” keeps coming up. Like nearly every time.
@gritandglory says:
i’d love to hear what you’re doing for your quiet times…
@mandythompson says:
:) I’m doing something called “Lectio Divina” – lemme find a good explanation for ya:
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Catholic/2000/08/How-To-Practice-Lectio-Divina.aspx
But, I don’t necessarily “pray” the scripture – like in the first movement – but I just read through it over and over again.
It’s pretty intense. And one of the most intimate things I’ve ever done, second to singing worship songs all by myself sitting on the floor with just me & my guitar when I was in Highschool.
I could see this REALLY rocking your face off. Lemme know what you think,
@gritandglory says:
ooooh. i like this!
It’s good to hear your voice again, Alece. In all its shades, even the dark ones. Sometimes, especially the dark ones.
Awesome!
Alece,
Last semester I taught a study on Ps 119. I spent a lot of time looking at the Hebrew words/meanings for the English translation I use. “Hope” is used a few times in that chapter and the occurrences are from 2 Hebrew words – “yachal” which means to wait, hope, or expect (v. 49); and “sabar” which means to inspect, examine, wait for, hope, or wait upon (v. 166). I found it interesting that the words were so far from our cultural understanding of hope as a desire for something to be or to happen that is really more akin to wishful thinking than an expectation that we are willing to wait for. In Ps 42:5 “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have ou become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall praise again Him for the help of His presence.” the word for hope is “yachal”. It means to wait, hope, expect, tarry, wait expectantly. Just wait. Sometimes that’s the hardest part, I think. But we wait, we tarry, we linger in expectation of Him, knowing that we WILL PRAISE HIM AGAIN for the HELP OF HIS PRESENCE. What a blessing that is, and a comfort. Waiting expectantly, lingering with you! Love and hugs!
Wow this is good. And to think you wrote this last year. Hope in God never fails. Love you.
@gritandglory says:
and i needed it now just as much as (or even more than) i needed it then!
walking. My word is ACTION after all.
@gritandglory says:
“funny” how God works… *i* needed to read this today.
Just stumbled on your site. Your story is inspiring. My parents were missionaries to Uganda, East Africa when i was a teenager and you’re right, once you go, your heart is forever with Africa. I went back last summer and am going again with a friend this summer to work at a new orphanage that one of my adopted Ugandan sisters just started (sonrisebabyhome.com) Looking forward to catching up on your posts!
@gritandglory says:
love hearing how your heart has connected with africa, too!
Great post – thank you!
Spot on – a hope tank! Hope closely connected to trust, for me. Running low on both, but this post is a good reminder to ask God to help.