“Start fueling hope by recounting the many everyday moments where God has come through for [you] and where things did work out. . . . [Those everyday moments] are all evidence that more times than not, things really do work out okay. . . . Remembering all that is working out will help bring balance to [your] thoughts.”- Lysa TerKeurst
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”- Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Lysa TerKeurst concludes Chapter 1 of I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t with her assertion that possessing the right tools for the journey back to healthy trust is critical. But we need more than the right tools. We also must have the confidence to use them.
When trust erodes in some important relationships, our thoughts fill with pain and confusion. In addition, the process diminishes our hopes to the faintest of whispers. Furthermore, when hope is completely blocked all together, we need the voice of hope to break through.
Therefore, Lysa underscores:
“Why is it important to reignite our hope as we seek to work on trust issues? Because without hope that things will get better, we’ll just stay stuck. We’ll let the pain of what has happened to us negatively impact us to the point where we no longer want to open up our hearts and be fully alive in other relationships.”
Above all, Lysa stresses, we aren’t made to:
- live in fear of getting hurt and hesitant for connection.
- let skepticism be our primary filter through which we see God and others.
- constantly doubt ourselves and feel we can’t trust our own discernment.
However, God created us to love and be found, embrace others, live in the assurance of God’s faithfulness, hope and rise back up with resilience, and be fully alive.
So, Lysa exhorts, treat yourself with gentleness as you use compassionate processing.
Today’s question: What Bible verses most help you start fueling hope in God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Fact and feeling = safety”