Hope! Hope to the person in a Nazi concentration camp or a Philippine squatters area or an African orphanage is Life itself in most moments! Hope produces Joy that on many days can look like shear insanity to the one who doesn’t know of this crazy, relentless Love From Above!
So where does Hope and Joy come from?
What is your Hope in and what difference does it make?
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
What was the “hope” Paul was talking about? What was his “joy”?
Paul’s crown was in the seeds of Love that he planted that were continuing to grow in the lives of those he touched. His joy, his hope came from seeing the Love that they shared for each other.
There was a time in my life and maybe you can identify with this, when my joy and my hope came from what I did or didn’t do. How much I was in church, how much I didn’t curse, how much I tried to act like I loved those I couldn’t stand – but this never brought me lasting joy or hope – only prolonged effort and constant frustration.
True joy and true hope comes from True Love! This Love is a journey that is never complete and will continue long after we are gone because the seeds will still remain in the Love we shared with others here.
Could this be the part that makes His yoke easy and His burden light?
Could it be that He is far less interested in our business for religious purposes than He is in our Love for one another?
I hope you will find a time and a place where you probably won’t be disturbed and just take a moment to breathe. Before you start take a couple of deep breathes and just relax without getting too stressed out about relaxing. After a couple of deep breathes and being in a comfortable position just:
Breathe in and say:
“My hope and joy”
Breathe out and say:
“Is God’s Love”
Practice this while you grasp the idea that “God Is Love!!”
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