Wild Hope
Last year sucked! 2023 began starry-eyed and bright, packed with hopeful expectations. In January, I stepped out on faith, asking God to fulfill a long-time dream of my husband and mine. God answered with abundance less than a week after my prayer.
This miracle set the tone for the coming year. A year of dreams fulfilled. As time progressed, the unexpected happened. A series of traumatic events, intense spiritual warfare, and loss engulfed my family. And the dream I stepped out on faith for never happened.
During the storms of 2023, my hope began to wean. It felt pointless to hope in people, situations, or my measly resources. The only person I hoped for was God, but hoping in Him felt too dangerous with each continual loss. I lost sight of His love and goodness. I struggled to reconcile His intentions through every trauma I endured.
When 2023 ended, I slammed the door shut. Singing my rendition of Ray Charles's Hit the Road Jack.
Hit the road 2023, and don't you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road 2023, and please don't you ever come back no more
But with the door closed, what was next? What did 2024 hold?
I didn't want to know. I determined to do one thing: hunker down for the next storm.
WILL YOU HOPE IN ME AGAIN?
The sun warmed my face as I sat with my feet firmly planted in the sand. Mesmerized by the ocean waves' tranquil cadence and sound, my soul calmed.
"Will you hope in Me again?"
God gently whispered this question as the wind blew.
"LORD, it feels too dangerous. It's January. I hoped in You last year at this time. I can't handle another disappointment. It's too painful."
"Will you dare to have wild hope in Me?"
Tears cascaded down my face.
Would I dare to hope in Him again, with a wild hope that runs free of limits? Would I courageously believe He has something better for me despite past heartaches?
"Yes, I will," I responded with trepidation as my fingers etched WILD HOPE in the sand.
THE GRAVEYARD OF HOPE
What exactly is wild hope? How would I nurture this tender yet fierce attribute?
I discovered the answer by doing art with my son. Using watercolors, I tried to visualize wild hope but failed miserably. I didn't give up, deciding on another art medium. I wrote everything that stole my hope, putting them in a grave called the Graveyard of Hope. This is the place where hope dies.
Then, I wrote Wild Hope above the grave and let my pen flow.
I remembered Bible stories of people who had wild hope in God. God reminded me of what He can do with my Graveyard of Hope. His resurrection power is greater than anything that has died, including my hope.
I pray this piece inspires you to bring your Graveyard of Hope to Jesus. Sister, wait with anticipation instead of dread. Watch as His resurrection power unleashes your Wild Hope.
