I would venture to say that the number one obstacle to anchor our hearts in hope is our lack of silence. And by this I don't simply mean the absence of noise. What I have in mind is the reduction of noise inside our soul that makes space for us to hear from God.

Before I suggest an exercise that may help you reduce the noise to hear from God so we can anchor our soul in hope, I want to ask you to take a moment to ask yourself: "What makes the most noise inside of you?". We all seem to be prone to some noise that trumps other noises. Here are some examples: fear, doubt, regrets, the pressure of perfection, rejection, hurts, persistent temptations, anger, frustration, a sense of abandonment, and the list goes on. Pick your most noisy noise, find a quiet place, eliminate some noises around you, turn off or silence that phone, and read Psalm 62: 5-12. After taking a few breaths, try this...

1. Lord, I want to give you my silence (pause).

2. I want to hear from you so that I can hope in you (pause).

3. Lord, I need you to save me from _______________ (list the things that are noisy in your soul and that tend to demand your attention or influence your actions).

4. Take time to "pour out your heart" before the Lord. (don't rush it)

5. Admit to God what you have been trusting in to make your life work (let the Holy Spirit reveal things to you).

6. Acknowledge and reflect on the two most wonderful realities we can experience in God as humans: He is all powerful and his "hesed" (loving kindness) is always toward us.

7. Finish this exercise affirming your heart in hope: "If God is all powerful and His loving kindness is always toward me, I can rest/hope in Him regarding ________________" (fill in the blank!).

To finish, I want to encourage you with this thought. God is neither a teddy bear nor a tyrant. A God who is only loving but lacks power is a teddy bear. A God who is all powerful but lacks loving kindness is dangerous. Good news: our God is both "all powerful" and "loving" at the same time. He has the power to do what is loving toward us and, He is loving in all He does!

—Diego Cuartas

*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.