Journal Entry from 9/12/17

HOPE

"May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Notes from NIV Study Bible: Any hope the Christian has comes from God. Hope cannot be conjured up by man's efforts, it is God's gift by His Spirit.

My Bible reading this morning reiterates a theme that has been standing out to me... I am NOT in control of this (or much else, for that matter!). I have no say as to how the chemo is working, how my white blood cell counts are rebuilding (or not), how the cancer is behaving... which is really weird because it is in my own body, but yet I have nothing to do but respond, rest, and HOPE. I actually love that this verse tells me that even HOPE is outside of my realm of control--because it can be easily lost or squashed if it is just in my hands. Lord, YOUR HOPE in ME. I trust you. I trust you to give me hope to overflowing. I trust that you can use this. I hope that you can use me. Joy and peace in the midst of this hard time. Fill me with your HOPE.

The Toby Mac song, Way Beyond Me, has been an encouraging word to me in this same theme. I'm including the song and lyrics here as a reminder for me that my HOPE is in the Lord that I trust--and it's not a whimsical hope, but a HOPE in a God who loves me and will bring peace and joy to me, even in the midst... even when the waters are a little too deep, when I feel like the underdog in the fight of my life... I've never been so aware of my need... Lord, I know I need you!

Lyrics

Call it a reason to retreat
I got some dreams that are bigger than me
I might be outmatched outsized the underdog in the fight of my life
Is it so crazy to believe

That you gave me the stars put them out of my reach
Call me to waters a little to deep
Oh I've never been so aware of my need
You keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond

Anything that I got the strength to do
In over my head keeps me countin' on you
I'm leaving the sweet spot sure shot tradin' it all for the plans you got
Is it so crazy to believe

That you gave me the stars put them out of my reach
Call me to waters a little to deep
Oh I've never been so aware of my need
You keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me

You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own
And Lord I know, I know I need You
So take me to Your great
Take me to Your great unknown

It's way beyond me, way way beyond me
It's it's way beyond me, way way way beyond me

Yeah, You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters just a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
Yeah, it's out of my league (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me

You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own (it's way beyond me)
You take me to the place where I know I need You
Oh take me to Your place
Take me to Your great unknown

Songwriters: David Arthur Garcia / Toby Mc Keehan

Beyond Me lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Artist: TobyMac

Album: This Is Not a Test

Released: 2015

Genre: Christian/gospel