Today we have a guest blogger because we are at Chloe’s college graduation. Yay!
I am delighted to introduce our dear friend, Cindy Jolly, who writes a blog of encouragement for caregivers.
Her post is on HOPE and whether you are a caregiver or not, you will love it! Check her out at cindyjolly.com.
Sometimes I feel as if I am “going at it hard” all the time – squeezed like a dollar before payday
between annoyances, schedules, someone else’s needs, my needs . . .
distracting,
distressing, and
diverting me from peace and sanity.
My “hope basket” is in desperate need of filling.
On the outside I may (or may not) appear to have it all together, but on
the inside the threat of collapse feels real.
So it’s no surprise that my antennae go crazy – boi-yoi–yoing-ing all over the place – when I open to 2 Chronicles and read:
In this time of deep trial, King Ahaz collapsed spiritually.
(2 Chronicles 28:22)
Collapsed? I knew it. The threat is real.
What does spiritual collapse look like?
For Ahaz, spiritual collapse looks like giving up on God and nailing shut the Temple door.
It looks like laying his “hope basket” at the feet of every god on every corner, beneath the shadow
of every shrine under every green tree, and at the altar of a religion he creates for himself.
It looks like pouring all of his energy and affection at the feet of any empty promise and his own ego.
For me spiritual collapse might look like leaving my “hope basket” at the feet of the internet,
any person with an opinion, or the world’s message that I possess power within myself to muster my own peace.
Ahaz “goes at it hard” to convince himself that he is his own best hope – the god of his own universe;
but in spite of his crazy “hope-basket-holding” scurry, he fails to find peace or sanity.
His is a cautionary tale, but do not despair.
Distress, difficulty, and disappointment don’t have to be destinations.
We don’t have to wind up in spiritual collapse.
There’s hope for us, but we have to decide to whom we will listen:
others,
ourselves,
or the Lover of our Souls . . .
When Jesus walked upon our earth He experienced exertion and exhaustion, and difficulty and distress.
He understands our desperate need for
less commotion and more peace,
less frantic activity and more sanity,
and “hope baskets” filled with truth.
On one particular day of crowds and commotion (and maybe a little insanity),
He invited His dearly-loved disciples to sit close to Him on a hillside and hear,
really hear, His tender words of hope.
Let this truth drop into your “hope basket” and refresh your soul:
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Matt 5:3 MSG)
More of God.
Less of me.
What a relief.
The end of our rope is where we hear God best,
experience His care in high definition,
and expunge any thought of giving up on Him.
God promises to never give up on us.
Do you hear the Lord inviting you to
meet Him at the end of your rope?
hear, really hear, His Words of hope?
and discard the threat of collapse?
He longs to fill your “hope basket” to overflowing.
How refreshing.
Love, Cindy
Lauren McSpadden Diamond says
Linda and Chloe made a great choice in you as a substitute for their excellent weekly blogs. I thoroughly enjoyed your message! What an encouragement ✝️🙏😍Thank you. Larrie Diamond
Linda Grabeman says
I’m so glad you were blessed by this, Lar. Cindy is a fabulous blogger! I think you would enjoy her weekly blog which she posts on cindyjolly.com every Monday.
Love,
Linda
Pat Gadek says
This message hit home and I certainly felt uplifted and blessed by it! Just what I needed amongst the chaos of moving and downsizing into a somewhat smaller home. Thank you, Pat
Linda Grabeman says
God is the best encourager ever! We are so happy that Cindy’s wonderful words blessed you, Pat!
Love,
Linda
Ruth says
Thank you! I really needed this reminder. I have been living at the end of my rope and in an effort to hang on I’ve tied two knots in the end of it.
The Lord blessed me today with this post.
Lord Jesus help me. I’m lost without You.
Linda Grabeman says
Aren’t we all? So glad this lifted your spirits, Ruth.
Love,
Linda