"AND THIS HOPE will NOT lead to disappointment. For we know how
dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
with His love." Romans 5:5 NLT
AND THIS HOPE WILL NOT LEAD TO DISAPPOINTMENT! I stopped reading right there and let the tears fall for a few minutes.Seems like most of my memories are clouded by disappointment, of what I wanted and didn't get, or people who were not who I expected, wanted, or needed them to be. That has been my valley of the shadow of death, disappointment after disappointment. It has been so overcast, for so long, that I have grown distrusting of those around me, distant from God, and drawing any nearer the cross than I have already come is just to much. Tonight I realized that as I drew near to the feet of the One who invited me to sit and rest a while. As I did, I looked up to see what the verse identified as my hope: I have peace WITH GOD through Jesus Christ and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God and the sufferings. The verses go on to say the writer rejoices in his sufferings because he knows they produce perseverance (make him consistent no matter what obstacles he encounters), character (the traits that make him who he is and who others experience him to be), and hope (the feeling that what is wanted CAN BE HAD or that things WILL TURN OUT FOR THE BEST).
In this book, the author poses the thought there is still a little girl inside of me that I have disconnected from and my growth in Christ and in the world around me is contingent upon my ability to invite her to be a part of me. She believes the woman I am is the result of who I learned to be to protect the little one that is inside of me from any further pain. Bonnie Gray invites her readers to find the white space by writing a letter from Jesus to the little girl in us and rekindle the hope and anticipation that things will turn out for the best. After all, look who the little girl is now!
Ah sweet precious girl! How I have loved the dreams that fill your eyes! How I have cherished the simple longing you have to constantly feel your hand in Mine! You have no idea of the gift I felt it to be as you curled up against Me and snuggled deep in My arms, curled against My chest and began to breath with Me and to the rhythm of My beating heart! Don't give up. Don't quit. Don't even consider the lies you have been told about the dream that grows inside and defines the glorious wonder you are in this world! YOU ARE MY BELOVED CHILD!
Jesus
