the year of {expectant} hope.

so i claimed 2010 as the year of contentment. the year brought a lot of trials in which i had to fight pretty hard to remain content... battles for humility and gratitude that often left me feeling defeated. but for the most part, i finished the year more appreciative of what God has done and continues to do in and through my life.

and as we entered into 2011, i've heard God tell me His banner over this year for me is hope.

just as His mercies are new every morning, the start of this year feels like a new season of hope in my journey.

and not just any hope -- but expectant hope.

i've been learning how to differentiate between expectant hope and hoping in expectations.

and boy has this idea of where i place my hope been a long time comin'... my longing for desires fulfilled, for a tree of life, just never go away. (and hoping in expectations will always result in hope deferred.)

God wants us to hope expectantly. to anticipate that He will hear our cries, that He does answer our prayers, that He is present- never leaving or forsaking us.

it's amazing in 3 short weeks how i've already seen God do exceedingly more than i could ever ask or imagine. in every area of life He is reminding me that He is faithful. that i can be hopeful not only for the possibility of change, but for the present moment.

the author of Hebrews tells us that this hope - the certainty of God's promises - is a sure and steadfast anchor for our soul (hebrews 6:19). i picture a ship, anchored to the shore in calm waters unaffected by winds and currents... though the waves roll and the winds blow where the ship is, the anchor remains firmly set beneath the quiet water of the harbor, keeping the ship secure.

expectant hope is placing our trust and faith in the God of the universe - secure, anchored in His presence... protected from the waves of doubt and the currents of deceit.

there will most definitely be storms, we can expect that, too. but we can hold fast to this hope, because He who promised is faithful.

the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "the Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." {lamentations 3:22-24}