Our theme for MomCo* this year is Wild Hope. As the coordinator at Willowdale Chapel’s Jennersville campus, it’s been on my brain a lot the past six months – and I LOVE IT! It’s made me think how much hope I have in all things around me – my marriage, my kids, my home, my job, my church, my groups, etc. It brings me so much joy and peace in life to have such wild hope!
As I reread that first paragraph, I can see how it sounds like my life must be pretty perfect. I assure you, it is not! I am often fatigued and frustrated. There is always something to be fixed – literally and figuratively. Inevitably, someone is not listening, and I’m not just talking about my kids here. Where do we find hope when things are far from perfect, during times of struggle, when we do not feel our best?
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5: 3-5
I put my hope in Jesus!
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you. Psalm 25:21.
Jesus brought me out of dark times. He has kept me and my family safe. He has provided. He has answered many prayers. We may not see it now. It may not be what we wanted. But He is here and has a plan!
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
My hope and my desire to live came from Jesus. It came from an acquaintance’s invitation to church. It came from a year of attending most Sundays and listening to the message, pushing God away and taking only what served me selfishly. It took another invitation to a Bible study. It took the love of a group of women to pull me in and find a desire to learn more. And in that learning and in that growing and in that community I continue to thrive in, I found Jesus – I found life – I found hope.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions of hope that stood out to me.
as a verb:
1. To cherish a desire with anticipation.
2. Expect with confidence (TRUST).
as a noun:
1. Someone or something on which hopes are centered.
It continues to amaze me how I felt before having a relationship with God (life-ending lack of hope) to now (outstanding abundant hope). When I am centered in Christ, I am excited for my future! I TRUST in Him!
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
Read the Bible. Join a Bible study. Attend a Sunday morning. Do it with a friend. Whatever you are going through. Whatever struggle you have. Whatever you do not want to go home to. Have hope! There is always a tomorrow. It always gets better! Find your wild hope!
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalms 62:5
*MomCo stands for “The Mom Community” and is a ministry for all moms at all stages. Whether you are fostering, adopting, expecting or have children off to school already – all are welcomed. We believe in the simple but revolutionary idea that remarkable things happen when moms come together.
For more information about our “Wild Hope” theme or about getting involved with MomCo at either our Jennersville or Kennett campus, click here.
We are always looking for childcare volunteers to continue to expand our ministry. If you are available to help Friday mornings for two hours once a month, please contact Ana at ajuarez@willowdalechapel.org.
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
A former teacher, coach and personal trainer, Kristin Ryan now loves being a stay-at-home mom.
As someone who has more recently found Christianity, she enjoys learning and growing in her faith and is excited to share her experience with others.
Kristin and her husband, Casey, have four small children (one was born during the pandemic) and one big dog.