What’s the most significant thing you “recognized” about your self-talk so far?
“I hadn’t realized how often I call myself names.”
What lie or lies have been the toughest to “refuse?”
“Klutz”
Which lies have you “relabeled” with truth?
Lie: “Klutz” – Truth: “Beloved child of God”
Lie: “all three faulty assumptions on page 45” – Truth: “God wants me to do my best now – in this present moment.”
Lie: “I trust God – I’m good on this point and don’t need any additional work – page 92 indicated otherwise.” – Truth: “I need to recommit to trusting God – leaning on Him more fully than on myself – letting Him make and change my plans without anxiety or resistance.”
List words or draw pictures in the margin that represent hope to you.
“a newborn baby, crocuses, the empty tomb, grass in a sidewalk crack, invitations, acceptance letters, signs of approaching end times.”
Based on the following verses, describe or draw what biblical hope is.
Colossians 1:27 – “‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’”
Romans 5:5 – “the Holy Spirit in our hearts”
1 Peter 1:3 – “the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
Hebrews 6:19 – “an anchor for the soul”
1 Timothy 1:1 – “Christ Jesus”
“♥ A prayer for Ellen – May hope woo my friend Ellen, while she is an atheist, from her cold world of intellect into the warm intimacy of knowing God.”
Answer honestly. I tell myself to put your hope in…
– “faith
– “relationships
– “family
– “my abilities
– “health”
Where we place our hope is revealed in what we say to ourselves. “I’ve always been this way and always will be.”
What kind of actions reveal when you feel hopeless – actions speak at least as loudly as words.
“inaction – playing rather than even trying to address the piles and diminish them.”
Fill in the blanks, “Soul…
place your hope in “God’s unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18,22; 147:11)
place your hope in “God’s Word” (Psalm 119:81, 14; 130:5)
place your hope in “God” (Psalm 39:7; 62:5)
[starred for emphasis] Placing your hope in your own efforts will only create more fatigue.
Personalize the following truths about hope. Write them on the walls of your thought closet because these are the reasons you and I speak hope to our souls.
God‘s “eye” is on me if I hope in His love. Psalm 33:18
My hope is in God’s “Word”. Psalm 119:81
God has been my “confidence” since my “youth”. Psalm 71:5
God takes pleasure when I “put my hope” in His “unfailing love”. Psalm 147:11
Hope brings “joy” into my life. Proverbs 10:28
God is my “portion”, therefore, I have hope. Lamentations 3:24
Hope makes me “very bold”. 2 Corinthians 3:12
Dearest Rachel –
This study, for all its hopefulness in tone, is a particularly difficult one for me to touch on, as so much of what it talks about was left undone – or at least unfinished. Of course, with regard to the cleaning and the piles around the house, it could be argued that that sort of work, by its very nature, is never done – which would likely have been a source of mild despair and inaction; why clean something that’s only going to get dirty or messy shortly thereafter? I understood where you were coming from, and accepted it.
But then, for one brief unprompted flash, you seized on a line by the author about a friend of hers, and made it about your friend. Only, you couldn’t use the past tense, in terms of celebrating a change, but rather the future subjunctive: a wish that she would come to faith from her present position, then and now. And you named names – mostly because you never expected this to be seen by anyone else’s eye but yours. This was meant to be a prayer between you and God.
But Ellen, if you do happen to see this – and I know the possibility exists – understand that Rachel wanted to see you again, and believed that she could, but understood that it was up to you. I know the three of us used to discuss theology from time to time when Daniel was little, and we were trying to get him off to bed (hoping the topic was dry enough to get him to fall asleep), until it became clear that all the debates in the world wouldn’t win you over, and might in fact put you off. It was at her urging that I backed off from such discussions at this point. But it didn’t change the fact that she wanted the same result that I (and later, Daniel) did; that of being able to be with you in eternity.
I know that the very concept of eternity bothers you. The Earth can be wearisome, in and of itself, and more of the same doesn’t appeal to you. You would just as soon cease to exist when your time comes. I get it; the whole idea of fluffy cloud heaven doesn’t appeal to everyone, and probably shouldn’t, as I doubt that’s really what it’s likely to be like. And if annihilation is really what you want – although that would sadden all three of us to not see you where we’re going – I acknowledge that it’s your choice.
But… suppose that’s not an option?
Anyway, honey, I agree with so much of where you’re coming from. It’s hard to hope when you’re in a hurry, but impatience doesn’t accomplish much; it only leads you down wrong paths, like my search for Megumi. I relate all the details of it to you in order to amuse you, but would you take comfort in the fact that that I am no better at placing my hope properly than you were?
Or did you already know most of that to begin with?
Letters to Rachel 