Gently Jill prodded her son, “It’s ok, go on.” Jimmy’s stomach flip flopped as he lingered nervously outside the room. Tears pooled in his eyes. A frown creased his face. With a quivering mouth and shaky voice, he pleaded,
“Mama, don’t’ make me go.”
Kneeling Jill pulled him into her arms. “I promise it will be ok,” she whispered. Moving to cup his face in her hands, she swallowed her sadness and calmly spoke; “Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Now let it out. Do it again.” Jimmy visibly relaxed as he complied. “Good job! Now, look at me.”
Opening his eyes, Jimmy looked into his mom’s smiling face. Encouragingly she continued, “You can do this. You are going to have fun and make lots of friends! Then before you know it, I will be here to pick you up!” Jill gave him a kiss, and gently turned Jimmy towards the door. “I love you, sport! Now, go have fun!”
Strengthened by her words of hope, Jimmy tentatively took one step forward. Stopping, he took a deep breath. Then without tears and a little more courage, Jimmy walked through the door for his first day at school.
HOPE!
Jill’s hope was not misplaced!
We may be way past our first day at school, but we all have times when we are nervous about our future. We sometimes wonder, Is a positive future impossible? But just as Jill was there to lovingly encourage and prod Jimmy with words of hope, so too is God.
Our loving God has left us with words of hope in His scriptures for every situation.
For whatever things were written before
were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures
might have hope,
Romans 15:4
No matter how difficult the future may appear, we can have hope that our God has a plan and can do the impossible, (Jeremiah 29:11).
But Jesus looked at them and said,
“With men it is impossible, but not with God;
for with God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:27
WHAT IF I MAKE A BAD DECISION?
Since God can do the impossible, He will hold us up even if we fall. When we turn to the Lord, in His merciful love for us, He will quiet our anxiety about the future.
If I say, “My foot slips,”
Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul,
Psalm 94:18-19
THERE’S MORE!
WE HAVE POWER!
We have been given more than words, in the midst of uncertain situations, God’s Holy Spirit has given us the power to abound in hope.
Now may the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Romans 15:13
NEVER ALONE!
Jill couldn’t stay with Jimmy on his first day of school. However, we can be assured that Jesus, our good shepherd, will stay with us always.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me,
Psalm 103:4
Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and strengthened by God’s Words of hope, we can have faith in His plan for the future.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen,
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Through Jesus, we can have hope for faith and strength to conquer whatever we face.
Yet in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us,
Romans 8:37
IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES, LET’S REMEMBER;
JESUS IS WITH US,
TAKE DEEP BREATHS,
&
STEP OUT IN FAITH.
Let’s all remember to pray for the children, parents and teachers throughout this school year.
REFLECTION
Are you nervous about your future?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Romans 15:13 and say it aloud, fill me with Your hope. Grow my faith reminding me that Jesus is with me and can conquer anything. In Jesus name. Amen.
THERE’S HOPE FROM FAITH IN JESUS
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo child, jep gambardella pexels
Photo shepherd, Daniel burka
Photo wheelbarrow, UweDahlke
Photo children, chi lok tsang
