Embracing Hope: Get your hopes all the way UP!

"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

Spoiler alert: The word HOPE will be used more than 15 times in this post!

We live in a culture where hope is underrated. We say things like "I hope so.." with low enthusiasm, "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst", "fingers crossed", "knock on wood"....I am guilty of this as well. There was a time when I didn't grasp the true meaning of hope. I'd say things like:

• "I don't want to get my hopes up". What I meant was "I am afraid to be disappointed, ashamed, embarrassed" and "If I lower my expectations, the shorter the fall will be; it won't hurt as much because I am not fully invested."

• "What God has for me is for me" - What I meant was "I am protecting myself from harm. I'm not going all in, just to be rejected in the end"

  
  

The problem wasn't hope, it was me. I was hoping for the right things, but in the wrong way. I was also placing my hope in the wrong source. I had more hope in myself and my own abilities than hope in God and His plans for my life.

I have learned that disappointments are part of life, for growth and learning. Faith and hope work together to produce the fruit out of our lives. Faith is the substance of things "hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1). The biggest lesson I've learned is that rejection is God's protection and redirection. Denials and delays are strategically positioned throughout the seasons of our lives. Closed doors are open doors, and we have to embrace them all.

Here's how I'm moving today, and I hope you will join me:

1. Get your hopes up. Change the direction of your hope. Don't play small or shrink your hope out of fear of rejection and disappointment. Getting your hopes "all the way up" is about hoping in God. Place your hope is in God, not people and things.

2. Be happy with high hopes. Get excited about your hopes and dreams. Expect the best and seek it. This doesn't imply avoiding planning, ignoring risks, or displaying false positivity. Doubt and fear will creep in because we are human. It has a way of stealing your joy and making you shrink. Half-way hope is boring and de-energizing, because it is our hope. High hopes in God only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Be hope-full as you move forward. Fill every day of your life with hope in God, until you are overflowing with hope. This brings hope to those around you. If it doesn't work out the way you hoped for, focus on learning the lesson. It will hurt and you will heal. Don't let that disappointment keep you from hoping again.

Whatever you're hoping for today, place your hope in God. He will hold you in the victory and the disappointment. Get your hopes ALL THE WAY UP!

Reflection: What high hopes are in your heart today that you need to elevate? Share them with joy and expectation!