Hope and Acceptance

Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

I have read differing opinions on this chapter in the Bible and since I am a simple, fat, blonde, missionary housewife with no theology degree, I won’t choose sides as to who penned the passage or who it was about.  I will, however, choose to believe God inspired it and preserved it perfectly for us today.  Can we all agree on that?  Hopefully so.

Today I have picked out this particular verse because It shows Hope and Acceptance.  And I need that right now in my own life.  I am experiencing an emptiness that physically hurts in my heart.  I drove six hours after leaving my two oldest children in Pensacola and the whole time I wept.  I kept thinking to myself, “I DON’T want to do this”.  I never considered turning around, but I hated every mile marker that proved I was a mile further away from two lives that I have had in my house and heart since 1995 and 1997.  It was killing me, but I kept going.  I knew I was doing right and that God would help me.

A friend texted me and tried to get me “topside”.  I told her I was numb and just couldn’t get there.  She has already raised her children and knew the grief I was feeling, so she told me to sleep.  I agreed that it was what I needed and that the morning would bring Hope and Acceptance.  She prayed for my sleep to be thorough and it was.  I awakened the next day with Hope and Acceptance. 

I can look at my soul and ask it, “Soul, why are you down?? Your hope is in GOD! And YOU are going to praise Him!”  I have hope in Him and I accept that He is in control.

We want to get to know Him better this year, right?  Well, that won’t be in just one aspect.  There will be some traits we learn of Him only through our own personal pain.  In those painful moments, we learn that our God is capable of holding our head up.  He is Perfect in His care and sends friends to remind us of His goodness. 

Are you in a spot where you call out and your voice echoes spiritually?  Are you spiritually dehydrated from all your crying in your soul?  Hey, I have been there.  A lot of people have.  But we can hope in Him and accept with perfect peace that He can control our lives to their best advantage.

Hope and Acceptance can bring a feeling of peace as you trust Him.  Can I encourage you today from my own hurting heart?  We can trust the Lord together and remind each other of His goodness. 

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri