Jeremiah 17:7: Trust AND Hope in the LORD

Blessed is in the man who trusts in the LORD, And who hope is the LORD.

-Jeremiah 17:7

This morning I was reflecting on Jeremiah 17:7. In particular, I wondered why God took the time to say that the person who "trusted" AND "hoped" in the LORD would be blessed. God is a perfect speaker after all, but to write that the person who hopes and trusts in the LORD will be blessed seemed redundant to me. 

So what's the deal? Was God being redundant? Just giving a two-edged whammy for the same plain idea?

No.

There is, in fact, a subtle distinction between trusting and hoping in the LORD, and thankfully GOD whispered that distinction to my not-so-astute heart.  

What'd He say????

"To “trust” is to depend on something. To “hope” in something is to have the steadfast, quiet assurance and confidence that it will deliver on your behalf. You can trust in a bridge, but never have the hope of crossing it. Likewise, you can trust in a mighty man’s sword, but never have the hope of him yielding it in your behalf. But to be able to trust and hope in Someone is to be able to say, “My confidence is both in the LORD’s capability, AND in His willingness to USE that capability to defend me when it is necessary.” That is the difference between hope and trust, and the two sides of the sword of deliverance of Your MIGHTY King."

Thank You, Jesus.

Love,

Alex :)

Down Days

Today I am having a down day.

For me, days like these are once in a blue moon, but what they lack in frequency I suspect they make up for in intensity, because despite the abundance of blessings in this girl’s poured-out, good-to-the-last-drop life, I can’t see anything but lack on these days.

Lack of love.

Lack of laughter.

Lack of meaning.

Lack of purpose.

Lack of applesauce in the applesauce container, because it somehow ended up in the cottage cheese container…..

Lack.

And the thing is, no amount of cat posters or inspirational mumbo-jumbo can change my heart on these days. Sure, tried truisms can shift my mental status, but they can’t squelch my sorrow.  My mind may buy into the “It’s not so bad” mentality, but my heart will have none of it. So, instead of wooing my woes away with a cute cat meme, I will acknowledge my bottomed-out-blues and add my name to Habbakuk’s, because in all my lack, He is still my Lord, and if I can be glad in nothing else, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

“Though the fig tree does not bud

   and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

   and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

   and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

   I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

   He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

   He enables me to tread on the heights.”

- Habbakuk 3:17-19

Everybody has heard of "that" dog.

Yes, you know the one I'm talking about: the dog who chews on everything, breaks well-known (and well-taught rules), and generally drives its owner bezerk.

Well, that dog???

That's my dog.

Chester

Don't get me wrong: Chester is not a bad dog. Sure, he chews with the tenacity of a Rottweiler and runs like Lassie on steroids in the sweet moments he escapes his leash, but he also has moments of greatness. Just last week my heart beamed proud as Chester stayed in a long-down with the most tempting of treats literally at the tip of his little black nose, and never once did he even lick it.

Brilliant? Yes. But Chester and I have worked long and hard to come to this point of most-of-the-time obedience. Yes, it's been a long road, but in the words of our vet "Chester has grown up into a nice young man," despite his wild-child beginnings.

But even "nice young men" have their days, don't they?????

Enter flashback: Yesterday, Chester and I were cuddling on the couch circa our normal routine. Wrapped in a blanket, eating lunch, Chester nuzzled into my side.

Picture? Dog owner bliss.

So, there I was, immensely enjoying this cozy companion of mine, until I look over at him, and what should my cozy companion be doing???

Peeing.  All over the couch.

Now this is the point when some people, some better-than-me-saints, would've reacted with holy harmony and patience, but not me. Nope. At the top of my lungs I screamed, "JESUS, HE'S PEEING ALL OVER THE COUCH!" And don't you know in my unholiest of moments, all of Heaven had to be dying of laugher?  Because, you see, only 48 hours before, God had encouraged me to take all of my Chester-woes to Him, and I prayed with all tenacity that He would help me do just that.

So, it may have been at the top of my lungs, and it may have even involved the word "pee" more than once, but God did answer my prayer for help, even if it was in the least expected of ways...

Father, thank you for loving me on even my craziest days with the craziest of dogs. I thank you for Chester, my good gift from You, and ask that You would help me love him in a way that honors You.

I love you, Jesus.
~Alex