Revival of Hope
2020; but really the past year and a half.
Just mentioning this may stir up all sorts of emotions as you ponder the journey you have been taken on this past year, whether in your personal life, seeing the things happening in the world, or both. These feelings may be intense, overwhelming, and difficult to wrestle with, let alone trying to make some sense of it all. For what it’s worth, I’m right there with you in the fog of, “What the heck has been happening, and when will it ever stop?!”
These past twelve months have brought on a plethora of situations in my personal life, in addition to the chaos of the world. How I wish I could sit down with you and hear your story because I know I am not alone. In my own recent faith journey, I have had moments of heart felt cry sessions (that may, or may not have involved ice cream) that have led me to take my laments to God. It has been in those moments that I realized my expectations of how I THOUGHT life was going to be has led to my disappointment of what reality has been. And when this happens, I have a choice before me: I can either spend my time questioning and blaming God for my current circumstances; or I can have faith that He is going to revive my hope despite the chaos around me.
I realize that I may not know your story intimately, but I think it is safe to say that we can relate to the emotions of each other’s story. We have all experienced: hurt, confusion, denial, fear, anger, excitement, disappointment, sadness, joy, passion, disgust, and exhaustion. All the things life can bring us, which can be intense, overwhelming, and difficult to wrestle with and make sense of. But can I tell you that in the midst of these intense, overwhelming, and difficult to wrestle with emotions is when I can always expect God to show up.
Hope, in the biblical context, is another way of saying expectation. And it has been in the past year that I have realized my expectations in life often bring preplanned disappointments; except when it comes to God. I can expect Him to show up and do mighty things in my life despite living through a difficult season of life, such as the past year and a half. In fact, I can expect Him to show up above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined!
I expected to have a calm 2020 in our house hold; and then my estranged mom moved in with us. I expected it to go poorly, but God has created a redemption story and it has been such a blessing having her with us.
I expected my business to grow in 2020; and then COVID chaos wiped out everything I had spent the past six years building. I expected to have a difficult time; but God has created a way for me to be home with my kids, be able to homeschool, AND still have a business that I am making more money with doing less work.
I expected to focus on my health in 2020 by honing in on my diet and exercise to heal my body; and then I found out I have cancer. I expected it to be extremely difficult and anxiety ridden, but God has provided abundantly every centimeter of the way and His peace is heavy on me.
If the difficult season this past year and a half has taught me anything, it has been the God is my anchor in the storms of life (Hebrews 6:19). I can cling to Him and have hope (or expect) that He will show up, most likely in ways I won’t be expecting or even think possible, which will bring the breath of new life and revival to my mind and heart.
This past year and a half have been such a difficult season for me (for all of us); but I can look back and see God’s revival of hope as His presence in my life has been made overwhelmingly clear. Nothing has gone as expected. There will be difficulties ahead; but I am expecting Him to show up and do amazing things and I’m excited for what’s ahead because He has revived my hope in Him.
Points to Ponder:
1. How have your expectations this past year become pre-planned disappointments?
2. Think about your life this past year and name 1-2 ways God has shown up.
3. What is a situation this week that you can be praying for God to bring His revival of hope in your life?
Megan Sinisi absolutely adores a good cup of coffee, chocolate, and sitting with people to share life stories. She is a native to Las Vegas, born and raised, and has four beautiful children with her handsome husband, Vincenzo. She is a counselor, specializing in the field of addictions, with multiple certifications, both in Nevada and nationally. She directed Nevada’s largest treatment court and has been building her private practice since 2014, acquiring contracts with the City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, Clark County Special Defender’s Office, and Zappos.com. It is because of her own journey of healing and through her career that she has learned the wounds we have can begin to be healed as we share our stories. She considers it an honor when someone shares their story with her, and hopes that as she shares her stories of victory and healing that others can be inspired, encouraged, and challenged. Megan has a love and fervor for writing and is walking in faith that God is calling her to use that passion and gift for His glory. She is someone who is known for her honesty and transparency that brings light to difficult situations and feelings, and offers hope and encouragement for the journey of life. It is her hope that by sharing her journey, it encourages, challenges, inspires, comforts, and most importantly, shines the light of Jesus and the reality of His love, grace, and mercy. You can find more from Megan at www.meganjsinisi.com And @meganjsinisi on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.