Disappointment-proof Hope

            Loving someone with an addiction has been a rollercoaster of hope, energetically rising up, only to be driven down again. The longing to see my child set free—it’s a pain I cannot even express. I find that I no longer let my heart climb all the way up those hills of hope, because the downhills are so painful.

            Yesterday I ran into a precious friend who reminded me of Isaiah 49:23-25. It begins with  “… those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” I believe this means that when we put our hope in Jesus we can let hope rise all the way up. There will be no plunging down again.

            I am not saying that this means there won’t be times of uncertainty and grief in the fight, but rather that ultimately, we win. I believe that in the end we will look back and say “Wow!! Didn’t God do amazing things for us, way more than we could ever have asked for!”

            These verses go on to say “Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce? But this is what the LORD says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.”

            “Yes… your children I will save!” The enemy of our souls wants us to think he has our children in his mouth like a lion with its prey. But God says that even in that case, even if all seems lost, He will fight for us, take back what is ours and save our children.

            So no matter what the addiction, or diagnosis, or court order, or disease, or poor choice or damaged relationship--- we can stand securely on this high, unshakable mountain of hope in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

            “Jesus, I trust You. My hope is in You. Thank-you for fighting for me. Thank-you for saving me and my children.”