I’ve been clinging to hope over the last few days, actually the last few years really.  Extended unemployment of my dear husband has put is in quite a hard spot.  We have been amazed over and over again of how God continues to provide for us, when we feel we have nothing left to give to Him.  It’s then that I remember that He doesn’t want our stuff, our time, or even our money.  He just wants us.  So I come, bended knee, with tear stained checks and I  cry, “Lord, Here I Am!”   If I am honest, I will tell you that intermingled in the Lord, here I am cry is the desperate plea for a breakthrough.  A deep desire for God to save us from our circumstances.

This is a strange place to live, wedged between fear and hope.  I know that fear is sin, and I must constantly give it back to the Lord in order to not fall under the weight of it.  My human mind tells me that our situation is hopeless.  Husband continues to be out of work.  Financially, we are undone, beyond repair, and we had to give up our dream of owning a home, as we surrendered it back to the Lord two years ago.

But my Spirit tells me that there is hope.

• When the cupboards are bare, I cling to the Bread of Life, who fills me fuller than any earthly food.
• When the gas tank is empty, I run to the One who gives me the power and strength for the continued journey.
• When my children are submitting Christmas lists which break my heart because we cannot give, I remember the gift that is Christ Jesus, a far greater gift to give to my children than any earthly possession.

When I feel hopeless and full of despair, I look to the hills, and choose to see the One who gives me hope!

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
(Psalm 121:1-2)

My friends, I share this with you not to have you feel sorry for us.  I know that we will be okay.  But so many are hurting and struggling in this season.  Just this morning I received a phone call from someone in the same position as we and I wanted to run out to the store and buy them groceries, fill their gas tank and pay their electric bill.  But I couldn’t.  My hands were tied with my own circumctances.

What hope could I offer?

It was then that I realized the only hope that I could offer was hope enough.

Are you or someone you love struggling this holiday season?  Let us remember where our hope comes from.  It doesn’t matter what the circumstances look like around you.  He is the Hope Giver. Look up!  Hope is on the way!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!  (Psalm 43:5 NLT)