Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” What robes you of your hope? What is your hope in? What do you hope for? Romans 8:24 ” For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?” This verse is so true…why do we hope for things, stuff, what we already have? You and I must focus on eternal hope, so that our lives will make an earthly difference! What steals your hope?
Here is what takes, steals, robes, thieves my hope:
1 – Wasting my Salvation
If my hope is in eternity I should be daily striving to store up treasure in heaven. My salvation is not just for me, but for the lost world. When I don’t share my hope becomes temporal and self-centered.
2 – The Enemy
His lies and culture war for my affection.
3 – Prayerlessness
Texting, emailing, calling friends and family first when trouble hits, steals my hope. Prayer is exercised hope!!
4 – Circumstances
This is the perspective problem. Perspective and perception is not our spiritual reality!
5 – Ingratitude
This comes from a failure to be thankful. We are not joyful because we are always focusing on what we ‘do not have’ instead of what we ‘do have’. We are never satisfied. This, my dear friends, is pride.
6 -Discontentment
What “tent” are you living in…”tent” of eternal hope or an earthly “tent”. I am so guilty of discontentment.
7 – Fear of Failure
PRIDE!
8 – Feelings
If you are controlled by your feelings, you are a victim. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones in his book, “Spiritual Depression” said, “I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression is this: That we allow our ’self’ to talk to us instead of talking to our ’self’. Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to your ’self’ rather than talking to your ’self’? . (The Psalmist talks to his ’self’ in Ps. 42 and 43)
9 – Unwillingness to Forgive
Mostly forgiving myself…if you and I don’t forgive ourselves, we are saying that we are bigger than God. He forgives readily and forgets immediately when true repentance is proclaimed.
What steals your hope? Who is stealing your hope? Have you been filled with hope recently and can encourage those reading who need hope? Comment NOW!
Mark F. says,
Number 9 is so important. So many forgive others and forget about forgiving themselves.
on 12 August 2009 / 10:33 AM
connie hall says,
Faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen. If we lose hope, we lose faith. We don’t want to do that. Thanks for the reminder in what we put our hope in.
on 12 August 2009 / 10:37 AM
Mark F. says,
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
on 12 August 2009 / 10:40 AM
Jim Watts says,
Is this picture appropriate to be putting on a blog talking to people about Jesus. Do you have hope for a santa? Hope is in Christ not santa.
on 12 August 2009 / 10:36 PM
Fritzi M says,
I thought the picture of the child crying and upset about Santa was great! As adults we no longer put our hope in Santa, however, we are sometimes just as childish when are hope is put in any other than Jesus. Great job Shannon.
on 14 August 2009 / 6:44 PM
Derek Simpkins says,
There are so many things out there trying to steal our hope – but the most common denominator seems to be negativity… people saying negative things or being around people that are generally negative, something or someone approaching you in a negative way. There are so many ways and situations that the enemy can use something so common like negativity to steal our hope. When it comes right down to it, though, I think the world steals our hope… not the physical world, but worldly things – debt, selfish emotions, gossip, current events, etc. It’s so easy to get in a funk and put God on the backburner while the worldly things kick your tail. What give me hope when the world tries to steal it? Saving Grace – the light at the end of the tunel. Scripture promises that there is no sadness, pain, or suffering in Heaven – we will be released from our worldly burdons so we can live at peace in His Kingdom… that’s what gives me hope. I know that anything unfortunate or negative that I endure in this world is temporary – even if I have to deal with it for the rest of my time on this earth – when I go before the King, I know that all the hard stuff is over. God’s given us a book full of promises to find hope in. Take refuge in it and take these worldly things for what they are…
on 19 August 2009 / 10:02 AM
Erica says,
Thanks for sharing these…here are a couple of hope stealers in my life.
People… I share things with people first and they steal my hope by building a wall of emotions that I can’t climb over.
what steals my hope the very most is unforgivness. I have a really hard time forgiving myself and it steals my hope and sucks the life out of me. This is not my final identity but I loose sight of that too often and hang things over my own head.
discontentment, its just a viscious cycle. I get over it and realize how very blessed we are, but then I go back into feeling like something isnt enough.
on 20 August 2009 / 8:13 PM
John Davis says,
#2 is the biggest thief of my hope. He wants me to believe that what is true in others walk with Christ and in their victories CAN NEVER BE TRUE in my walk with Christ. He wants me to believe that I can’t have victory. In fact, I am convinced that the opposite of hope is RESIGNATION….a inner embracing that I am going to have to settle for mediocrity and lack of purpose.
on 22 August 2009 / 9:13 AM
leaceglerfiff says,
I think you made some good points in your post.
on 27 September 2009 / 3:21 PM