“The Lord delights…in those whose HOPE is in Him” Psalm 147:11b

For 2008 I asked God one simple thing on New Year’s day. No long list of resolutions. No lofty goals I knew wouldn’t pan out. No weight loss ambitions (I was pregnant after all). I asked Him only for hope. In fact, in was more like begging. I pleaded for hope in all aspects of my life. My marriage, my parenting, my relationships, the lives of my children, for my neighbors…the list was long.

It seemed like a big request at the time, but it was all I could utter. An unusually kind friend gave me a plaque that had hung in her kitchen during a really difficult time in her life. It had been a precious belonging of hers, a reminder of what could be. I have hung it in my kitchen now for months. It was at first a reminder of what was barely a light on the horizon. Then of something so close I could taste it. And now-of something that has filled the corners of my heart. I am overwhelmingly grateful.

In thinking about today, so many I know are so worked up about the outcome of the election. My neighbor is losing sleep over it. I realize I’m in a bubble being a stay at home mama, but I am an educated one who still knows the gist of what is going on in the world. I was up at 1:00, 3:30 and 7 AM today, feeding a baby and praying for the day and being reminded that my hope is not in who wins today and it shouldn’t consume my whole day.

My hope isn’t in myself, in any of the amazing people I know, in my plans, in a thought or ideas, in my circumstances, in my abilities…in who leads our country. It is in Jesus, just Jesus. He has turned things around and brought transformation and healing in places of my life I never dreamed anyone could. He IS hope to me. He has poured out grace over my life, every single day.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27