I am embarrassingly good at allowing my mind to jump from one worse case scenario to the next. My thoughts bounce around in my head from one horrible thing that could happen to another terrible thing until I have this entirestory worked
up in my mind that may or may not even come about. I feel like this is something that most women wrestle with. We are HUGE overthinkers and sometimes we cannot stop our brains from going and going. My poor husband. Sometimes he has to remind me, “hey mi amor, tranquila (hey my love, calm down). Todo va a estar bien (everything will work out).” God has just wired us very differently.
This morning my mind was going crazy filling up with a ton of hypotheticals. But then I had a thought that reminded me of how I have been focusing on the wrong things.
The thought that popped into my head went a little like this, “so what if this situation does not turn out the way I would like? I know where my hope lies. I know that I am Heaven bound, and no bad news or disappointing situation will ever change that.”
I have been putting my hope in things that just don’t matter. I have been putting my hope in people, things that are fleeting, and even worldly success. Something radical happens as I shift my perspective from things of this world to my Jesus. As I switch my lens from a worldly lens to an eternal lens, I find myself
– less worried
– more joyful
–and more eager to love people where they are at.
It is way too stinking easy to slide into the patterns of this world and start trusting in man or trusting in things that we expect to bring us joy. I am 100% guilty of this. But as I spend more time with God and meditate on His word, I am reminded that my hope is in Jesus alone.
Everything is fleeting. The things we own may be great for a year and then they break and need to be replaced. Even friendships can be seasonal sometimes. But our Jesus, He is the One thing that will always remain. And as we prepare for His return, we must set our minds on the things that are eternal. The things that matter. To hold loosely to things and money and hold tightly to what the Word of God says and God’s promises to us.
Towards the end of 2021 I really wrestled with trying to be expectant of how God would answer my bold prayers while also trying to not set myself up for disappointment if those things did not come to pass. I am sure many can relate to this. One Sunday morning I was worshiping with my family at their church in the states and it hit me:
-I was putting my hope in the things that I wanted God to do for me instead of in God Himself
–My hope is not in whether or not God will answer my prayers the way I desire. But my hope is in who He is, His unchanging character and goodness, and that He has called me Heavenward.
-I had to shift my perspective and put my hope in Jesus alone because of who He is and not based on what He did for me
Our hope is in the fact that our Jesus came, defeated death, tore the veil so we can be in relationship with Him, and He is coming again. Did you catch that? Our Savior is coming for us again! This is our solid hope. The same God throughout Scripture who was faithful even when His people were faithless is the SAME God that we serve. He is never changing. In a world that can be chaotic and overwhelming, our God is constant. HE is nuestra esperanza (our hope).
Now, as I narrow my focus on my Creator, He begins to transform my thoughts. No longer am I concerned with all the potential things that could happen or stressing over what I will fill my belly with tomorrow. No longer am I placing my hope in the way I want or expect God to respond.
No, I am placing my confidence solely in Jesus because He is the I AM. He is who He says He is. I know what truly matters and choose to set my thoughts on things above. I know that I am Heaven bound, and no one or thing can separate me from the love of my Jesus.
Where are you placing your hope and confidence today?
Journey to Dominican 