Is hopelessness sitting on your heart?
(6 minutes)
"Hopelessness doesn't cause you quit God, it just causes you to settle. God's done too much for us to quit God. We've seen too much. We've heard too much. But you know what, you don't follow Him as hard as you used to. You don't believe for the impossible anymore. You can tell how much hopelessness has taken over your heart by what you dream for. We've got an empty tomb to tell us you can be anything you want to be." (Pastor Tim)
Why have we stopped dreaming? Why have we stopped believing for the impossible things? Why have we settled? Why have we come to a place where we value our own opinions over what Yahweh says about us?
Hopelessness.
Like Pastor Tim mentioned on Sunday, hopelessness is sitting on the throne of our hearts and there's no room for the King there. And this hopelessness speaks louder and is more convincing now than Abba's voice. This is how we get to the place where we read scriptures like Isaiah 61 which says we're to be Mighty Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh, bringing life to ruined cities, and we don't feel anything when we read it and we certainly don't think it's possible for us. Maybe someone else, but not me. We hear Abba's voice and we're not moved to excitement anymore, we sink even more into despair. Why? Because hopelessness has taken root, and it's been sitting on our heart for quite some time.
Hopelessness would want us to rush through these things and get away from verses like Isaiah 61, but we shouldn't leave it until we believe it. It is intimacy with Yahweh and hearing His voice that will root the hopelessness out. How far would you go to rescue your children out of hopelessness? Abba will go so much further.
The mighty Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is wrapped around me because Yahweh has anointed me, as a messenger to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to heal the wounds of the brokenhearted, to tell captives, "You are free," and to tell prisoners, "Be free from your darkness." I am sent to announce a new season (eon) of Yahweh's grace and a time of God's recompense on his enemies, to comfort all who are in sorrow, to strengthen those crushed by despair who mourn in Zion -- to give them a beautiful bouquet in the place of ashes, the oil of bliss instead of tears, and the mantle of joyous praise instead of the spirit of heaviness.
Because of this, they (you, me, us) will be known as Mighty Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh as a living display of his glory. They will restore ruins from long ago and rebuild what was long devastated. They will renew ruined cities and desolations of past generations. (Isaiah 61:1-4)
"There's an exchange that has to take place. You have to let some things go in order to receive what He has for you." (Pastor Tim)
Abba wants to make a trade with you. Your ashes, for His beauty. Your hopelessness, for His heart and how He sees. Your thoughts about yourself, for His thoughts about you. We can't hold on to our hopelessness and see everything the Kingdom has for us. We must make the trade, so we can inherit the abundant life that Jesus purchased for us.
Abba's heart is to see you become fully alive.
Yes, fully alive.
The most authentic, unhindered, tender, childlike, trusting version of yourself. You, fully alive.
He's committed to this process and to seeing you become the most fully alive, beloved son and daughter that you were designed to be from the beginning. He won't stop until your lips declare with complete faith - "There's nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing wasted, and nothing stolen. I am exactly who He says I am and He's planted me in this place to be a living display of what a beloved son or daughter of Yahweh looks like when they let go of their broken hearts and hopelessness in order to receive everything that Jesus died for - life, and life more abundant."
Are you starting to believe it's possible?
Beloved One, it's all yours. The empty tomb says you can be exactly who you were designed to be. Don't let hopelessness hold you back!
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Worship: "Beauty for Ashes" by UPPERROOM
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!
