Hope Changes Everything


A couple of weeks ago, before our recent snowfall, I looked out the window into our backyard. The grass was brown and the trees were bare. The bird feeder was empty and uninviting. (We fill it when the ground is covered with snow.)

It was a depressing scene, and yet I saw hope. In a few months the trees will have buds and the grass will turn green again. The birds will return to their nests and baby birds will learn to fly.

I know there is hope in the dead of winter because spring will come again. Every year. Without fail, the cold days will become warm again.

The weather seasons will change, but sometimes the seasons of life feel long and drawn out.

I can't imagine what it's like to go through life without knowing Jesus.

With Jesus, I know I'm not alone and that no matter how long winter seems to last, I know it will not go on forever. {Tweet this}

Without winter, there would be no spring.

Without death, there would be no resurrection.

Without the valley, I wouldn't see the mountain.

Without the hard days, I wouldn't enjoy the good days.

Without chaos, I wouldn't appreciate the quiet days.

Without Jesus, there would be no light to break through the darkness.

I don’t know what season of life you’re walking through, but I encourage you to not give up.

The calendar pages turn and the new life of spring will be here before we know it.

God is most certainly at work, whether we can see it or not. Life seasons change, often much slower or quicker than we would like. But in every season there is hope.

Because of Jesus, there is always hope. And hope changes everything. {Tweet this}

In Christ,
Laura

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]


21 comments:

  1. This is so true, Laura! Without Jesus we would have no hope, so He certainly brings a new and hope-filled perspective to every circumstance we face in life. Thanks for you this inspirational word, my friend!

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  2. The hard seasons are just so ... well ... HARD! Yet our joy is only as deep as the sorrow we have faced. Because of our faith, we do know that the spring will come - the sun still rises - and that on the other side of this trial, something beautiful will once again rise. Thank you for this beautiful reminder, Laura! Your words always encourage me ♥

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  3. Simple truths I tend to forget in the winter seasons.

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  4. I like to think of winter as a season of PROMISSORY slumber -- there is so much going on underneath the snow and the frozen ground that we cannot see. What a vivid picture God has given us of the Christian life when we really look at the seasons as you have today!
    Blessings to you, Laura!

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  5. I think we appreciate light more after the darkness. God gave us cycles of life to remind us, tho we need a little more winter here in CA! (He knows that, too!)

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  6. Love your title. Hope changes everything. Because it really does. I know that right now I am getting through winter because I hope that spring is around he corner. I am getting through the hard day because Jesus is my hope. Hope is such a sustainer.

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  7. I've been saying it and believing it since 2002 - #hopechangeseverything !!!

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  8. Amen! God had a plan when He made these cycles of life. Thank you for this lovely encouragement!

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  9. Amen!! Because of Him : ) What a blessing hope is!

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  10. Yes, yes! I used to hate the changing of seasons, unless it was summer coming, but God has really adjusted my perspective and shown me how we need them all because He has work to do in us and through us during each season, even the hard, dreary ones. Thank you for sharing this at #PorchStories.

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  11. I've been reading in John 1 this morning so this really stands out to me: "Without Jesus, there would be no light to break through the darkness." Amen! Thanks, Laura.

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  12. Hope is such a beautiful word. I thank the Lord that because of the hope He offers, we can even be thankful for the valleys, the hard days and seasons. And even for winter:) Thanks for the reminder!

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  13. I shared a devotional about this very thing last Saturday at a ladies brunch. We don't always like the winter but we know it is a season that God ordained for good reasons. We grow through those winter seasons when we allow Him to do His thing and trust Him through it. Thank you for these encouraging words! Blessings --- (Stopping by from #HeartEncouragement)

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  14. This is such a perfect word for any time in our lives really. And seasons of change will always be inevitable but knowing Jesus anchors us is a comforting truth when life is anything but. Have a lovely weekend, Laura. Keep sharing, it is such a blessing.

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  15. Yes, with Jesus, there is always, always hope. Thanks for the blessing of your thoughts here today! (Stopping by from Deb's place)

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  16. Such great encouragement here, Laura. THe other day I was looking out the window and listening to the birds chirp. They were whistling so contently and I was reminded that they worry for nothing. God takes care of them, they only have reasons to chirp happily. But so do we because how much more does God care for us. Nature is such a great reminder of a great God. Thanks for joining us at Sitting Among Friend Blog Party. I am linking today through Grace and Truth Linkup.

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  17. I can't imagine walking through life without Jesus either, Laura! This was such wonderful encouragement on these cold, icy, long, depressing days of winter. Spring DOES come! Hallelujah!

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  18. I'm like you ... I can't imagine how people trudge through life without Jesus. But with Him, even though we face those dark and dreary seasons, we don't do it alone. Praise God for His faithfulness!

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  19. Amen! Hoping for spring here too, but hoping even more to continue finding God's grace through these changing seasons. Oh, I agree so much--what would we do without Jesus? I'm blessed to be your neighbor over at #GraceandTruth!

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  20. Hi Laura, such a great reminder that seasons come and seasons go. If we're in a tough season, this too shall pass. There is always hope in Christ. Great post
    God bless
    Tracy

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