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In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Q ~ Trust Trump's Plan ~ 08/01/2025 Vol.510, Q Day 2835, xone wrote:
Hope is not natural to me
As a Christian Melian it should be, not the fake hope of the world, but the sure hope of the Resurrection in Christ.
Christians face different ordeals in life, and all do their best to draw closer to God and His restoring love. The Christian use of the term hope has a few meanings and I don't know Melian's here, but I had problems with my own.
I never stopped believing in God or His Goodness, but from such a young age it seemed to me that people I loved, and I, lived beyond the periphery of key parts of His interests. For example, I couldn't understand at the time, a loved one suffering and dying despite desperate prayers (mine and others). My loved ones were not key players in the faith - they were not missionaries or church leaders. I looked at human suffering in life and thought it wasn't important to Him because His plan is beyond our understanding and we are like grass in this life, we wither and die - and yet in Heaven, we don't recall our suffering on this Earth. I wasn't a Christian because I denied parts of what I witnessed in life; I was Christian because I loved God more than anyone else despite what I had already witnessed and prayed for in life. There simply was no one else Without Him, I would be more alone in the world than I could comprehend or express.
John 6:66-71 King James Version (KJV)
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
But as I followed Him, I in my young wounded faith saw myself below His focus and interest. I had help getting to that low point - I attended a church for many years which worked to destroy our self-esteem and faith. I recall the pastor often asking, as if appalled at our hubris, 'Do you really believe God wants to hear from you? He said this while making a face, and contorting his voice, to indicate as he spoke that our indecent hope that God would hear our prayers made him want to vomit on the pulpit. His point was usually that if we were not knocking on doors telling people about God, He loathed us for our selfish faithlessness and we had no right to ask God for anything, least of all His attention.
There are other ways the world contaminates His message of hope. They piled on the poor foundation of my hope. I always turned to Him in prayer and yet lived with little hope that my world would be blessed with His grace because of those old roots of falsehoods laid down in my early days in church.
I didn't realize that hope was not natural to me until I was in my 40s, yet I had been CHristian for 30 years at that point.
I had to fight to get my own stash of hope. What a battle! I WHAT A BATTLE!!
! had always been a light-hearted person with faith in God, prefering to joke around throughout the day, but so little faith in myself, and almost no understanding that He is personally moved by our suffering and our joy. I believed He moved on an epic, world building level. I didn't realize just how tender -hearted the mightiest in the Universe could be, the One who set Earth in motion, and gave us the milky way like a Father suspending a beautiful mobile over His baby's crib? How could the great I AM still lean down to catch every word and every tear?
Frankly, I always marvel at those who must go to the home of a family, and tell them their soldier, of whom they are so proud, has died overseas. I feel as though my legs wouldn't hold me up as their grief washed over me. It is times like these which God WANTS TO HOLD US and stays beside us, bearing our grief even though He feels it so intensely.
Christ wept when He arrived to meet those grieving the death of Lazarus. He knew He could raise the dead, but He was moved.
The following is an AI response, but as it matches my understanding, I'll use it.
Jesus Wept at Lazarus' Death
Jesus wept upon hearing of Lazarus's death not because He was saddened by Lazarus's death itself, but because He was deeply moved by the profound grief of Lazarus's sisters, Mary and Martha, and their friends who were mourning. Although Jesus knew He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, His tears were an expression of empathy and compassion for those who were suffering.
That part - that is one of the key parts of me that had to be healed and restored. I had to learn that horrific crucifiction and dying on the cross was just a tiny part of how much He loves us and WANTS to hear us speaking to Him always. I believe He's like a parent who wants His child to speak to him, always eager to be there and provide, to personally comfort the child who is asking Him to help. It's beyond my understanding how He loved us throughout His unjust crucifiction, right down to the tender desire to hear all our cares, and every concern on our minds.
My struggle for hope was grueling uphill battle, which was comprised of my flailing effort and His gift of restoration. I had pieces of my spiritual heart restored to me, which He granted after reached a point of exhaustion, recognizing I couldn't see how I could ever win it for myself. He placed the prize I sought in my hands. Changed me forever, yet again, and again.
But I look around and see others in their Quest and I am filled with hope for them - they too will be given the gift on God gives to those who seek it. I have to guard the hope He has gifted me - as the world continues to claw at it. Prayers up for those in that battle - that they speed along their quest and receive their prize sooner (and sweeter) than it even seems possible.

Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility For Cracker Barrel Logo Change
X.com ^ | 2:30 PM · Aug 23, 2025 | The Babylon Bee✓ @TheBabylonBee

Posted on 8/23/2025, 4:30:35 PM by E. Pluribus Unum

https://babylonbee.com/news/al-qaeda-claims-responsibility-for-cracker-barrel-logo-change

Well said, MqD!!!!

Re Hoping:

Beautifully written testimony. I learned at five years old that very bad things can happen to good people for no discernible reason. I have a daily reminder of that lesson but I try every day to be hopeful. I know it is a lack of Faith and trust in God that robs me of Hope, and I strive.

The worst offenders in destroying hope that I have encountered are the church people who will be praying in tongues and jumping the pews for their friends, but will be quick to tell those who don’t have the right social standing that God will never answer their prayers, or that “God always makes you wait”.