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“Hope is an act of defiance.”

A thought by Christine Caine from her book, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure (p. 114). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

It really is.

Christine says, “I don’t know where your hope is struggling. Maybe your beleaguered hope is for. . .

• A loved one to be saved
• A child to come home
• A marriage to be restored
• Your body to be healed
• Your finances to be restored
• Your career to be revived
• A home of your own

“Whatever it is, it’s time to risk hoping again. Whatever dream we had that died, whatever promise we gave up on, the truth of God’s Word says that we serve a God with resurrection power who specializes in raising the dead. (Mathew 9:24) The truth we believe says we serve a God who redeems our lives from the pit, who gives us peace instead of conflict, who gives us a crown of beauty instead of ashes, who gives us the oil of joy instead of mourning, who gives us health instead of disease, liberty instead of captivity, assurance instead of doubt, hope instead of hopelessness. (Psalm 103)”

She later says, “When we risk hoping again, we learn how to live in the present, but with the future in mind. We shift the gaze of our focus forward. We become prisoners of hope who cling to hope, who speak the language of hope, who don’t put off hope, who are willing to let God surprise us with a new future. When we become prisoners of hope, we commit a daring act of defiance—we dare to get our hopes up. We dare to believe that the desires God has placed in our hearts will be fulfilled—somehow and some way. (Proverbs 13:12).”

So, are you ready to be definite against your circumstances and to risk hoping again?  Are you?


Yes, yes!

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