Hope When You're Hopeless

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
– 2 Corinthians 4:17

Saturday must’ve felt pretty hopeless for Jesus’ disciples. There they are – a group of men sitting in a small room, huddled together behind a locked door unsure of what the future holds. They are devastated because their leader is gone. They are scared because of fear that leaders will come after them because of their association with him. They are unsure of what will happen next. They are confused because they don’t understand how all of his teachings and miracles and interactions with others have led to what they see as the end. Yeah, he had talked about what would happen, but as Luke tells us, the disciples “didn’t understand” and “failed to grasp what he was talking about” (Luke 18:34). What hopelessness must’ve filled that room on that day so long ago.

Have you ever felt hopeless like that before – unsure of what happens next, of where to go from here, or of how you carry on? I think we all have at some point and time in our lives. Life is full of times where we didn’t see things coming or we are filled with some of the same emotions that Jesus’ disciples had in that locked room. But life – especially the Christian life – is about rising above those feelings of hopelessness and putting our hope in Christ and the fact that He is in control and His ways are higher than ours. He’s not going to leave us hopeless and helpless – His Word is filled with instances of providing us with hope – Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 62, Psalm 91, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:25-34, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:31, and the list could and does go on and on and on.

As Christians, it’s because of Jesus’ resurrection that His hope is ours for the taking (when we ask Him). The disciples didn’t have that understanding, but WE DO! We don’t have to stay behind a locked door in despair or fear or confusion or hopelessness because we don’t know what will happen next – we can know and depend on the fact that our HOPE is built on nothing less than Christ and His righteousness! Yes, we mess up and we fail Him and yes, there will still be days where we will still feel hopeless, but we can know and trust and believe that our Savior is a gentle and compassionate friend who is there to take our troubles and fill us with His incredible, merciful, and undeserving love and hope.

If I could go back in time to that locked room where the disciples were all huddled together, I’d share with them 2 Corinthians 4, ending with the beautiful picture of hope that is promised in verses 17 & 18 – “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” What HOPE!

Six Month Nashville Update

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Deuteronomy 31:6

This month marks 6 months since my move to Nashville.  In one way these 6 months have seemed like a whirlwind; but in another way it seems like I’ve been gone from Morristown forever.  My new life in Nashville is everything I ever imagined, but never thought possible – dream job at the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, amazing coworkers, terrific church that I was immediately able to jump in and get involved, a “real life” position at the SBC annual meetings, a wonderful place to live – I am just in awe of God’s amazing orchestration of this journey so far.   I find myself shaking my head at points in just utter disbelief that this is my life.  If I could hashtag different experiences I’ve had since I have been in Nashville it would look like this - #IsThisMyLife?!??!?!??! 

With all these great things that have happened over the past 6 months, it’s crazy to think about my frame of mind 7 months ago.  While many of you did see me 7 months ago (December 2014), you probably didn’t realize that I was in one of the toughest mental battles I’ve ever gone through.  My level of courage was in the negative percentage, I had no confidence in myself whatsoever, the realization of leaving my friends and family was more real that it had ever been before, and I was an emotional mess.  I had been literally handed this amazing opportunity without even asking for it and here I was undergoing a complete and total meltdown.  It was ridiculous and the devil was having a field day with me.  In my heart I knew that this was the right path for me; God’s hand was in so many of the intricate details of this story that it was evident this was His plan for me.  However, my head logic was begging…literally screaming at me…to stay in the confines of my comfort zone, which I must admit did look appealing.  My dream had finally become reality and was staring me straight in the face…but I was entirely petrified to step outside of my comfortable life and enter into a new one.

I am not a “fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants” kind of girl.  I’m not a risk-taker, you won’t find me on a rollercoaster, and I hate the unknown.  Accepting this new life involved all of the above and I honestly didn’t know whether to say yes or no.  That sounds so silly now because of course the answer was “yes” – it was a question I had always wanted to be asked.  Why would you say “no” to a question you’d always dreamed of hearing?!  Nonetheless – I was faced with this decision and needed to find the courage and confidence in myself to make it, regardless of the answer.  So what did I do?  I prayed like I have never prayed before, sought Scripture that I felt God had written with me in mind, and talked with my family and close friends to get their guidance and advice. 

Holley Gerth is my absolute favorite Christian author because she writes as if she personally knows the readers and what they are going through.  While I had started her book, “You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream” before this whole job thing came about; I ended up finishing the book during the time I needed to make this decision.  God knew I needed to hear what Holley wrote and that’s why I believe he had me wait to finish the book until this time.  I want to focus on a few of her topics, as it relates to this situation, in further blog posts, but for now let me share a short passage that spoke volumes to me.  She writes…

“The God of the universe has chosen you as his ambassador, his partner, his way of sharing his light with the world.  You may not feel qualified.  You may not feel ready.  You may not think you can do what he asks.  Listen my friend: you are all you need to be to do all he’s called you to do.  ‘It’s not about you’ can be hard words to hear, but in this context they can also bring a profound sense of relief.  You do not have to be superwoman to make God’s plans happen in your life.  Because it’s ultimately about him, and your role is simply to let his light flow through you.  You’re the vessel – He’s the source.”

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave nor forsake you.”  When Moses spoke these words to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6, he was telling them this because they would be going into uncharted territory without him.  They were heading into an unknown future away from their home and the one who had helped them through the tough times before (Egyptian captivity, wandering in the wilderness, etc.) wasn’t coming with them.  They were far out of their comfort zone and had to be scurrred (that’s East TN talk for “scared”).  In fact, both Moses and God had to remind the people of Israel and the new leader, Joshua, more than once to be strong and have courage.  The Israelites obeyed and because they were willing to step out of their comfort zone, they eventually enter the Promised Land…a place that the Jewish people still live to this very day.  I identify so perfectly with this story – Nashville isn’t necessarily the Promised Land (ha ha), but it’s the uncharted territory to where God has led me and I know that He is going to use me in extraordinary ways for His purpose and glory.  There are definitely points of time where I get scurred and homesick, but it’s then that I hear God speak Deuteronomy 31:6 to my heart and His strength and courage begin to fill my heart to keep on keeping on.

Holley was right.  There are times I don’t feel qualified.  Situations come up where I don’t feel ready.  Sometimes I still don’t think I can do all that He asks. But my comfort zone isn’t where God wants me.  He created me to be a light for Him and, like Jesus said, “no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket” (Matthew 5:14).  His light, through my life, has to shine and Nashville is where He has guided me to light up the sky.  

Father - continue to give me courage, stay by my side, draw me closer to the Throne, and let me shine so that those I interact with through where I live, work, and serve can see YOU through me.

A Snowpocalypse Neccesity

“I keep the Lord before me always.  Because He is close by my side, I will not be hurt.” – Psalm 16:8

Snowpocalypse 2014 (the name for the South’s crazy snow/ice storm) will be one for the record books.  Kids stuck overnight in schools, interstates turned into parking lots, people welcoming strangers into their homes for food and warmth, and lots and lots of snow and ice…these are the takeaways from these crazy few couple of days here in the South.  It’s been crazy to read all the posts and see all the pictures from my friends in Birmingham/Hoover and Atlanta.  Many people were separated from their loved ones for over 24 hours…how crazy!  I had a good amount of snow and ice where I live too, but I live in an area that sees this kind of weather every so often….Birmingham, not so much.

An interstate in Birmingham....a casualty of the 2014 Snowpocalypse.

I’m sure as many people slid on ice or were stranded on the interstate for 20+ hours God was hearing a lot of these kinds of prayers, “God, stay with me and please don’t let me get hurt!”  David (although he wasn’t in a snowstorm) could relate to these people because he said in his psalm, “I keep the Lord before me always.  Because he is close by my side, I will not be hurt” (Psalm 16:8).  David knew that with the Lord’s provision and protection, everything would be okay.  How sweet it is that as believers in Christ we are able to have this knowledge that our God goes with us, and stays close beside us. 

God is SO gracious to give us the things we need…protection, peace, love, and the list goes on and on; but we must remember that we need to give Him things He deserves too and those include worship, thanksgiving, love, trust, and that list goes on and on.  In fact David asks God for protection and couples that with the fact that he has placed his trust in Him, “Protect me, God, because I trust in you” (Psalm 16:1).  When we place our trust in and give thanksgiving to God, He will give us the protection, peace, safety, and help we need. 

This blog post wouldn’t have been so personal until just a few hours ago, however, as I realized just how much this verse and message means to me today.  On our way home tonight, we crossed an intersection after our light turned green.  When we made it halfway through the intersection, we heard a loud bang behind us.  A car had run their red light and crashed head-on into the car that was directly behind us.  We were literally one second away from being hit and totaling our car.  But, “He [was] close by our side, [and we were] not hurt.”  Thank you, God.  Immensely.

Situations like what I experienced tonight or like the snowpocalypse will arise again in life and we must not let our worries or fears grip us in those moments.  We must remember that our God is before us always and will be close to our side every step of the way.  In those moments, He is all you need.  Believe Him, thank Him, and trust Him.  

David said it best, “The Lord is all I need.  He takes care of me” (Psalm 16:5).  No matter what the circumstance…even a snowpocalypse…He will do just that.

A Sweet Peace

“…Have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." – John 16:33

Fear and nerves can be powerful emotions.  They can grip our minds and make us feel edgy, tense, depressed, and sometimes even angry.  How do we push these negative emotions away?  How do we find a way to be calm?  How do we find a sweet peace?

Jesus tells us in John 14:27, “My peace I give to you.”  That simple phrase alone should cut down all fear and anxiety.  He GIVES us His peace.  We don’t have to win a contest for it.  We don’t have to take a number and He’ll get back to us.  We don’t even have to pay for it.  He just gives it to us.  If you ask me, that’s mind-blowing! 

When we need peace, we simply ask Him for it.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  He’s ready, waiting, and willing to take all our fears, worries, anger, and frustration and in return give us a calm and peaceful heart.  All we have to do is tell Him.  Again, mind-blowing!

I can’t tell you how many times I have called to my Jesus for peace, and time after time He has given it to me…no matter the place or the occasion.  It’s a crazy feeling because while I should be scared out of my skin, my heart instead feels calm, cool, and collected.  And just like Paul says, that TOTALLY surpasses all my understanding.  It is then I know, however, that He has heard my prayers and petitions and has given me that sweet peace I need. 

Unfortunately, trials and sorrows will find their way into our lives, Jesus said so in John 16:33; however, He promises to be there to give us His peace.  So…if you’re in a scary or frustrating situation, coming out of one, or are about to enter one, I want to leave you in this post by echoing the words of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”

Keep Calm and Don't Quit

“…Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6

Worry.  Dread.  Frustration.  Obstacles at EVERY. SINGLE. TURN.  We’ve all been there.  These feelings many times lead to giving up and quitting whatever is the source of these emotions.  Many times throwing in the towel seems SO much more appealing than having worry/dread/fear/frustration and the like consuming your every thought.

Oh, I’ve been there too.  There have been times I was not happy about certain situations and thought the easiest and seemingly worry-free solution would be to just quit and do something else – surely that would bring some peace to my chaos.  It doesn’t though.  Things may slow down, but other negative feelings seem to pop up – disappointment, regret, and sometimes even more unhappiness.  Disappointment that I didn’t accomplish something.  Regret that I gave up too soon.  Unhappy that I let someone down. 

Time after time we hear teachers or leaders tell us, “Don’t quit!  Persevere!  You can do it!”  Those phrases seem so cliché, but they are so true.  When we listen to encouragement and advice during our times of wanting to give up, this support can take a hard situation and help us see it from a different angle.  It can come from parents, teachers, church leaders, others who have been through those same situations, and also through prayer.

I can’t think of a better encouragement, however, than the Bible.  It’s His Word to us!  There are so many ways in which the Bible can encourage us in life…especially in the instance of not giving up.  Look at how The Message paraphrases Psalm 119:1-6: “You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.” 

What would’ve happened if Noah had given up on building the ark?  Well…there would definitely be no zoos, that’s for sure.  What would’ve happened if David had stopped running from Saul in the wilderness?  He wouldn’t have been king of Israel because Saul probably would've killed him.  What if Paul had quit going on his missionary journeys after all the troubles endured?  He wouldn’t have reached thousands for Christ.  We will endure hardship and frustration in this life, but God has a plan for us and will use us for His glory...we must trust Him in that and not give up!  Paul has great encouragement for us.  Look at Romans 5:3-4, "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  I also love what he says in Philippians 1:6, “[Be] confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Paul is telling us, “Don’t QUIT!  Jesus, the Guide of your life, is doing a great work and He will complete it! Stay the course.  Don’t give up!” 

I recently posted part of the following poem on Facebook, but I wanted to take this blog post to show the poem in its entirety.  It’s not a Christian poem, but I think it combined with the scripture I have shown above both speak to the same message…don’t quit, even when it’s hard.  In middle school, my science teacher asked us to memorize this particular poem.  He was a cross country coach, and to be honest, in 7^th grade, I thought that’s what the poem had to do with (no I was not in cross country).  When I got to high school, I happened to have this same teacher again, and again, he asked us to memorize this poem.  By this time in my life, however, I understood that it was much more than a poem for cross country runners….it was a poem that anyone could relate to…a poem that speaks to perseverance and not giving up in the tough times of life.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen this poem in its entirety and I couldn’t recite it to you word-for-word, but I’ve never forgotten the message of it…even after all these years…. “don’t you quit.”

Don’t Quit

by Anonymous

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about

When they might have won, had they stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit!

Feeling a Change Coming On?

Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message):
Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
It's bursting out! Don't you see it?

Change.  Some like it, some don't.

As you can see, I've changed the look of this blog.  I really like it.  I think it fits my personality!  I hope you like it too.  To me this is a good change.


But sometimes things change and we don't necessarily like it.  We'd rather go back to what we've been accustomed to, what worked, what was convenient.  I understand that, I've felt that way many times too.  Like the time we moved back from Hong Kong.  At the time that was the hardest change I'd ever gone through.  I loved that city...it had become home.  My best friends were there, the church I was able to first serve in was there, my life was just beginning to revolve around this incredible city.  But because it was only a 2 year term, we had to leave and come back to the US.  I had to interact with a culture that I had not interacted with for 2 years...and for a preteen, a lot happens in those 2 years!  At the time, I did not like that change and I spent a lot of crying hours during those few months after we got back.


Sometimes change is scary.  We don't know what to expect, how to react, or what to think about it.  We let this change produce fear that grips us to the point of seemingly insanity.  I get that too...another emotion I've felt in my life.  The story I mentioned above includes feeling this emotion too.  I was so scared of making new friends and fitting in that I let that fear grip me to extreme sadness. 


It wasn't until I stopped thinking about what I had lost and began focusing on what I had that I realized how God was working in my life.  For instance, during that time, I was able to serve more in church...a passion that has continued even until this day.


This verse from Isaiah says to forget about what's happened...it's old news.  It encourages us to be alert -- not fearful or focusing on what will happen. We need to live in the here and now.  He's going to do something completely different in our lives, that we can be sure of.  I think another verse that complements this Isaiah verse is Jeremiah 29:11.

Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message):
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Change will come, whether we like it or not, God tells us that.  However, God also tells us that He has great plans for us that will prosper us and give us a hope and a future.


So...next time you feel the winds of change blowing around/on you, don't fear and don't think about the past, but embrace the present and consider what God is doing in your life NOW that will in turn affect your future.  God's gonna do great things in your life..that I know.