Nine years into their marriage, my parents remained childless. My father was one of nine children, and my mother, the oldest of five, so childlessness was an unfamiliar place.
I’d like to believe they were still holding on to hope, but I’m not sure that was the case. It’s hard to honestly congratulate others on a second, third, fourth (or more) pregnancy when you are still awaiting your first. Even more challenging to ignore whispers and deflect questions that are hurtful, embarrassing, and the questioners have no business asking.
Do you find it difficult to hold on to hope?
Following are reflections on the characteristics of a hopeful heart:
Positivity
When you look at the world around us, at injustice, poverty, and on-going wars, it’s easy for thoughts to trend toward all that is negative. Maintaining positivity requires consciously looking for what is good, encouraging, and progressing. Hopeful positivity isn’t always a natural mindset; it must be cultivated and practiced.
Forward-Looking
Many times, people who encounter life trials fail to move on from them. They constantly replay what happened, rekindling their hurt and anger, and become mired in the past. Whereas, a hopeful perspective is forward-looking.
Seeing God’s Goodness
A hopeful heart recognizes God’s goodness even in times of hardship and grief. Those with a hopeful heart realize contentment isn’t based on current circumstances, but on God’s faithfulness and abiding presence. Hopefulness realizes difficulty isn’t punishment, but rather, a life season that comes and goes. A hopeful heart sings of the goodness of God.
Expressing Gratitude
A hopeful heart is grateful. Although we may think it, often we forget to express thankfulness. In remembering to thank others, and God, you tune yourself to recognition of blessings and your gratitude for them.
Perseveres through Difficulty
Those who persevere, who keep their faith in times of distress, learn to trust God and move forward despite obstacles. By clinging to hope, when all around you seems hopeless, you sustain forward motion, knowing only God can do what you can’t do.
When my mother went to the doctor because she was afraid she had cancer, she was shocked to learn her “cancer” was something else entirely, a nine-month condition that culminated with my birth shortly after my parents’ tenth anniversary. While my parents’ prayers were answered, and hope restored, many long for something that never comes to fruition.
Perhaps they hope to love and be loved, wish for a job opportunity that never quite materializes, pray for a family member to finally address a devastating addiction, wish for a cure for their chronic illness, or, in the case of my parents and many others, the gift of a child.
When prayers go unanswered, don’t abandon hope. Keep persevering in prayer, in faith, and in hope.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13 NKJV).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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