#johneldridge

[anchoredinchrist4ever]

The personality of the artist leaks through their work. God included. He reveals himself through nature, as the Scriptures testify.

~ John Eldridge         (via:anchoredinChrist4ever)

[hope-deferred-inc]

Hope

"Hope sleeps without me...her sweet dreams surround me, but I'm left out." - Crave by For King and Country.

It amazes me how accurate this lyric is concerning real life. In the chorus, they sing "Hope is what we crave." Another true statement. It seems that no matter how hard I try to give up on hope, I can't. Despite the fact that I get my hopes up, only to be let down, and hard. However, I find myself wondering if I am creating false hopes and seeing those shattered. I can think of only two reasons why God would shatter one's hopes. First, the hopes were not God-given, but created by the creation instead of the Creator. Secondly, the hopes were not the best God had in store for you. One of the best pieces of advice I heard/read was 'If you settle for what is good in your eyes, you will miss what is best in God's." This is paraphrased, of course. I am unclear whether I read this in a John Eldridge book or Richard Blackaby book, although I would recommend reading both authors. Anyway, the author explains that humans are too easily pleased. Instead of searching and waiting for God, we find a nice plot of grass and settle down. Many doors can open for us, presenting us with good opportunities, but if we aren't careful and consult God on every decision, we will miss out the best he has for us. 

To be honest, I had every intention of this blog being a 'woe-is-me' entry, but after talking with God, I realized through His gentle correction how utterly wrong I have treated hope. There is nothing wrong in hoping in your dreams, but don't blame God if that hope is shattered. Instead, ask Him WHY. Asking God questions doesn't show a lack of faith, but a deep need to understand God's will for your life. When my hopes failed I tended to stop talking to God for a day or so (and I can't say that I won't do such a childish thing in the future), but I found that day or so to be more depressing than the shattering of my hopes. Then it dawned on me as I laid in bed at 4 in the morning, unable to sleep. Instead of running FROM God in those times, why don't I run TO God. I practically hit myself in the forehead. How thick-headed could I be? (Pretty thick if you ask me) I then pictured myself falling into His arms with tears streaming down my face and begging Him to tell me why things were going the way they were. He simply stroked my hair and said 'just wait.' I still don't know what it entirely means, but I know that by waiting for God, He will not disappoint. It's funny how one day can change the purpose of a blog entry. I realized that some of the hopes I had placed in my dreams were not God-given, but I was blaming God for giving me the hopes in the first place and then proceeding to shatter them. I didn't want to take responsibility for my part in the whole thing. We will always crave hope, but we must make sure we are craving God-given hope. The only way to discern the difference is to talk to God. Ask God questions, but only if you are prepared to hear what He truly has in store for you. There are some days my stomach churns and I lose all confidence to ask God what He has in store next for my life. I want to know, but am afraid that it will be something I don't want to hear. I simply have to remember that God knows my heart and no one can handle it with more care.

[adamcurrence]

We live in a world at war. We are suppossed to fight back. It is apparently a difficult reality to embrace, as witnessed by the passivity that marks much of modern Christianity. We just want the Christian life to be all about the sweet love of Jesus. But that is not what’s going on here. You may not like the situation, but that only makes it unattractive——it does not make it untrue.

John Eldridge - The Way of the Wild Heart