There is a proverb that tells us that a hope deferred makes the heart grow sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life [Proverbs 13:12 NIV]. This past COVID year had deferred many of our hopes. We stopped planning because there was no where to go. We got discouraged and began to build walls of self-protection because we couldn’t face more disappointments.
Seeing HOPE is a CHOICE, and I write to tell you that there is still sweetness to be found. Hope is a desire with expectation of fulfillment. It takes COURAGE to hope. Our souls need hope when things are difficult. Help me, God, bring some hope to the future!
When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on,
Proverbs 13:12 [The Passion Translation]
the delay can be depressing.
But when at last your dream comes true,
life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.
RESOURCE
We got in a habit of putting on Covid protective gear in 2020. Mask, gloves, hand-santizer. Check. Scripture also gives us protective gear! We can put on HOPE with the spiritual personal protective equipment (PPE) called the Armor of God.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 [NIV]
Our struggle in this world is not just what we see before us. There is a spiritual battle before us, but God did not leave us vulnerable. He gives us protective gear like the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. We can use our spiritual PPE and bring HOPE for the future. Satan may weave evil, but God re-weaves it for good. The HOPE is coming, but we need to intentionally seek it.
RE-DO
Our Covid eyes are fuzzy, but our spiritual glasses can clarify! As we look for hope, we need to examine the past, present, and future.
- Past: Acknowledge the issues [What happened?]
- Present: Help the hurting [What can you do today?]
- Future: Bring hope in God [What do you want to rebuild?]
Explore these questions. What are your hurts and how have in influenced your parenting this past year? Who can be your support as you seek hope in the Lord?
While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered His authority.
A.W. Tozer
If you find your children struggling, be a safe person for them. Don’t fix. Just LISTEN. Can we listen and reflect their feelings without getting mad? Good parenting is showing up. And *good enough* parenting is OK! The reality is that we will likely get it right only half of the time. So I challenge you to just keep showing up. Routines are a time of connection. Be intentional and keep reaching out. Be OK with being uncomfortable as your parent-child relationship changes. Too many parents give up because of their own wounds. Where there are ruptures, there is also repair. Trust in the repair, and tell your child, “When you break, we are all here for you, to catch you, and to heal with you!”
You can continue to grow through crises, and you can help your children see a future with HOPE.