After so many twists, turns, ups, and downs in your life, you may wonder how can I keep hoping that good things will happen. It can be challenging at times. We get knocked down, get back up, and look forward to better times. We might get a break from the negative onslaught long enough to think about good things that may be up ahead. Then more challenges may come, but we can’t let them zap our ability to keep hoping. Ever had that happen? If you’ve lived long enough you’re answer will be yes. You’re not alone. Keep reading, because I have some words of encouragement for you.
Hope Defined
What is Hope? According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, hope is defined as, “to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true, or to expect with confidence.” In the Bible, the word hope carries a strong, confident expectation. For example, Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified Bible Translation) “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed) and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”
How do you know when you still have Hope? 
We need to stop and think about how much hope we have because we use the word hope more often than we realize. For instance, I hope so, or I hope to go to dinner this weekend, go on vacation soon, or get a raise next week. So we use the word but how much hope do we have? There may be some situations in our lives where we’ve not seen the results we would like or have seen no results at all or by the hoped-for expected time. That’s when it can get more difficult to keep hope as alive as it once was regarding that situation.
So what clues do you have when there’s still a flicker of hope? Pause and check. Can you still see in your mind what you’re hoping to have? If you can’t see it, how can you have the motivation to go after it? Also, how are you planning for whatever it is that you’re hoping to have once it arrives? For instance, if you’re hoping to buy a more expensive piece of clothing for a special occasion, you’ll see yourself in that clothing and will be planning the accessories to go with it, along with the events at which you can wear the clothing and look great. Or if you’re planning to buy a new car, you might be dreaming about going on a beach trip once you have it. So those are the kinds of clues you might have.
What is Hope Deferred?
When we hope and wait and watch for the signs that tell us hope is still alive, it helps us move forward. Waiting and hoping but seeing no results is what falls under the hope deferred category. How long might we wait for something? Sometimes God will give us a vision or a desire but it seems like it will never come to pass. That might last for a short time or it might last for many years. I can think of Bible characters to whom God made promises. Some waited many years for those promises to happen, while others, like Abraham (to whom God promised that he would have many children), saw how impossible that promise looked since he and his wife were old and no longer able to have children. So after waiting for some time, Abraham’s wife came up with her way to make it happen. However, that did not go well for them or anyone else involved. Ultimately, they created an even bigger mess. At a later date when Abraham was about 100 years old, God delivered on His promise and miraculously, Abraham and his wife had a healthy child that Abraham lived to raise to adulthood. Out of this event came many blessings rather than heartache like when he failed to wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled His way.
Keep Hoping
So don’t rush ahead. Keep reaching for your dreams and hoping. Wait, listen, and follow God’s lead. He knows exactly when we’re ready and able to handle His promises.
–rekindle your heart’s desires
–dare to dream again
–get a picture in your mind of what you desire
–if possible, keep an actual photo of what you desire where you can see it every day because that will help your mind work on ideas related to bringing it to pass
God wants to give us the desires of our hearts that align with His Word & His plans for us. So stay tuned to what you sense you’re to do and follow the Lord’s leading.
Conclusion
Despite times of waiting for dreams to happen, take whatever action you can right now. Even when you have to wait a while for your dream to materialize, never give up. Do all you can to keep your hope alive. Stay around people with dreams and aspirations so you can keep hoping and keep one another encouraged.
Thanks for reading my post! I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments regarding how you keep hoping when waiting for dreams to come to pass.
All the best to you!
Your Rebuilding Lives Coach,
Colleen