12.14.23 - Hopeful or hopeless

Good morning ,

What is hope? Hope is the expectation for something in the future. 

As Christians, our hope should be fixed on God alone. 

If I can be honest with you, I've had a whole lot of faith in God, but hardly any hope. :(

I think I've told you this before but I believe God can do anything, but it's hard for me to hope he will do it for me. 

So I often pray and ask God for things but I lack the hope that it will actually come to pass.

This past week and a half has been extremely challenging in my personal life. It's caused me to pray more, study my bible, pray again, listen to sermons, pray over again, etc.

Let me tell you something. Some problems cannot be solved by money or self care or taking a vacation or getting on medication, you get the point. Some problems you have to take to Jesus because he is the only one who can help restore your peace, your joy, your health, your patience, your hope. 

That's where I've been yall. Been facing problem after problem. So I been spending more time doing what I know works. Prayer and reading the Word. Then I came across a sermon "A gift of hope." It helped me realize that I lost my hope and it was time to get it back. I've been fixated on the wrong things instead of focusing on what the Bible tells us to focus on (Phillipians 4:8) 

I been focused on bad reports, bad behavior, bad thoughts etc. That is of the enemy and I refuse to allow the enemy to corrupt my mind.  

I don't know if you can relate at all but I got tired of feeling hopeless.  

This past week something happened when I was reading my bible. I learned that I have been my own problem. I have been holding onto lies and anger. I've been holding on to worry and anxiety. It's a terrible place to be yall, but God wastes nothing.

Sometimes God will bring you to a place to remind you that you have not fully surrendered to Him. It's typically not a very fun place, but it can be a transformational time.

Sometimes God will take you through something so that you can share with someone to give them hope that if God did it for them, he can do it for you too.

I didn't understand at first why God asked me to share these weekly messages with you. I felt so weird. But every week I send these out I get at least one response saying it helped them. So I keep sending them & pray that it reaches who needs it.  

I appreciate you being a part of my community. It's always more than skin care :)

If this email has helped you please share it with someone you know. 

Love,
Danielle
naturallycreated4you.com