"My Name Is Hope!"

"Do you know my name?" The sweet, bright voice came out of the blue while I was waiting in an express check out line at Walmart the other day. I had just finished a REALLY long shopping trip for groceries, field trip items, etc. and had somehow gotten out the door with some batteries not paid for. So, back in we went to the shortest line we could find to make things right. While I was waiting, the sweet voice came from a little girl sitting in the front seat of the cart in front of me. "Do you know my name?" It startled me slightly in a comical sort of way, but I am rarely at a loss for words when it comes to kids, so I answered her, "No, but you do. Are you going to tell me your name?" With a big smile she piped right back with, "My name is Hope!"

From there we had a silly, sweet conversation that only last 3 or 4 minutes about everything from the cool stuff she got for Christmas, to the fact that my twins' names (Esperanta and Esperancia) also mean 'hope', and that she and the twins both had sisters named Elizabeth. Hope smiled the whole time we chatted, and gave me a few moments of pure joy just from interacting with her for that short time.

When I first pulled in behind her dad's cart, I had noticed briefly that Hope suffered from some sort of illness that had kept her body from growing properly. Her body seemed to small for her big, beautiful face and her speaking ability. Once we got to chatting, I asked her and Hope told me she was seven years old. I knew for sure then that this sweet girl had a disability of some sort - but had I not been able to see her, I would have never known it at all. She had the spirit of a champion in every way - outgoing, positive, full of life and laughter - and best of all willing to share it with me.

When I came home, I told Pat about beautiful, little Hope and our conversation. As I did, I almost started to cry and realized that she had made quite an impact on me for an express checkout length conversation. The words kept ringing in my heart - "Do you know my name? My name is Hope!"As they did the Holy Spirit began to minister to me about how we are to go into this new year. We need to go into 2013 knowing the beautiful name "Hope!"

Although there many who can testify to the goodness of God manifesting in glorious ways in 2012, there are also many that faced great trials and battles last year. If they are honest, those folks were happy to see the year end as they work to regroup and move forward. From different places around the world, there were some awful tragedies that we watched on our television and computer screens that affected many of us deeply and caused us to cry out even more fervently to God for Him to move and bring revival to the nations.

Though the pain of these things is truly felt and cannot be made light of, it is of utmost importance that we never, ever lose track of of the sweet, bright voice of Hope. Even in times of turmoil, the believer must remember that when things are at their worst, God is at His best! We cannot always control the choices of people, or when and how the attacks of the enemy will come - but what we can do is take control of our souls, anchor ourselves in the Word of God, and make an intentional choice to keep our eyes on our Redeemer, knowing that no matter what - He has not forsaken us or let us go!

One of my very favorite hymns is It Is Well With My Soul. Here are just a couple of the verses.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
 
Refrain:It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

This beautiful song was written by Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). He was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day. Over the course of 2 to 3 years, Mr. Spafford lost all five of his children to terrible tragedies, as well as losing most of his personal fortune in the Great Chicago Fire. He wrote the words to this hymn while he was on his way to meet his grieving wife in England after the tragic loss of his four daughters in a shipwreck.

I do not believe that any one of us would have condemned Mr. Spafford if he would have had a fit of anger, or even a time of questioning his faith after so many tragic occurences in such a short space of time. It is unthinkable to lose even one child, but all of your children? To see God bless you with great prosperity, only to see it destroyed before your very eyes? Yet instead of despair, Mr. Spafford anchored himself in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ and wrote one of the greatest and most encouraging hymns of all time. He found the strength to trust God and say "It is well" in the toughest of circumstances.

No matter what losses we may have faced in 2012 - we must not forget that we are more than conquereors through Him who loves us! My heartfelt prayer is that you will not allow any loss, no matter how great, to cause you to lose hope in Christ. He is our everpresent help in time of trouble, and will guide us through the storm to safe haven if will contiue to place our faith and trust in Him. No matter what lies behind you, there is a future and a hope waiting for you in the arms of a loving Father. Don't ever run away... always run to Him in the time of the storm. He is your rock and your fortress forever!

Can you hear her voice now too.... "Do you know my name? My name is Hope!"

For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:10-12