It’s 2:00 PM and I should be cleaning.?? Don’t want to.?? I still have to get my floors done but Tori’s sleeping and I don’t want the vacuum to wake her up.?? Know what my excuse was before she went to bed??? Tori hates the vacuum and cries every time I turn it on.?? Can’t win I guess.?? Will have to wait until she is at least 4 before I do more floors.?? Such is life.?? 😉
A few days ago Jodi sent out an email about a song she loved from Addison Road, “What Do I Know of Holy”.?? Beautiful song.?? While I was listening I came across “Hope Now” and it moved me more than I have words for.?? I sent it to Heidi right away and now all three of us are advertising it on our blogs.?? 🙂
Hope Now – Addison Road
If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I’m Yours
(PRE-CHORUS)
I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by You
All my life
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
I am not my own
I’ve been carried by you all my life
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
(Repeat 2x)
(CHORUS 2)
You’ve become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
The concept of “everything rides on hope now” is so powerful.?? Incredible really.?? I think back to Hebrews Chapter 11.?? “They died in faith believing having not received the fullfillment of the promise”.???? So many that walked before me, put it all on the line.?? Their belief so profound that they went to their graves knowing that some of the outcomes they watched for were just behind the veil.?? Everything rode on their hope.?? That was enough.?? That is the very definition of hope I think.
My family and my friends are struggling.?? Can’t tell you how many conversations I have had with loved ones this month who are about to lose it all.?? Jobs gone with no end in sight.?? Houses in foreclosure or on the way.?? Cut backs, layoffs, no work….desperate times.??
I was on the phone with one of my brothers a couple of weeks ago and we were having a long talk about all the situations that felt like impending doom.?? My brother said that he didn’t want to lose this moment.?? If he was going to “go out” – he wanted to go out believing.?? Believing that God’s plan is higher.?? That it is good.??He wanted to seize the moment and choose to believe despite the evidence of the day.?? And trust me, the evidence of that particular day suggested that his house would be burned down and his livestock dead of disease??and his children sold into slavery by the time he got there.?? THAT kind of day.???? When the worst scenario forecasted looked downright pleasant compared to the worst case scenario not predicted.??
When I hung up with him though, despite all that was falling apart – we both had hope.???? Not hope that “things would work out”.?? Hope that comes from knowing your Daddy is God.?? He doesn’t abandon.??
Notice that in Hebrews 11 – those people did DIE.????Then notice this??- they still believed.?? Imagine what their reception was like.?? To hear “well done good and faithful servant”.?? Could greater words of affirmation ever be spoken to me??? EVER????? So we hold on.?? And we make a decision.??
Jesus – I am not my own.?? I have been carried by you ALL MY LIFE.?? I hope.?? Now.??
9 responses to “Hope. Now.”
thank you for the words i couldn’t articulate. beautifully written… this song spoke to me for reasons you spoke of… we’re not in financial desperation just yet – but i have struggled to hang onto hope… wondering where dreams went or if they’ll ever be fulfilled… too much transition and not enough actual change – waiting for what’s next (basically for about 10 years now! 🙂 ) but i hold to hope of what may come REGARDLESS.. .maybe i’ll die and not see all of those hopes fulfilled in ways i think i need – but God knows what i need… and sometimes the dream drives us forward to places HE really wants us… oh to hear ‘well done’ – that’s really the destination isn’t it? not the dream in this life – but His embrace when the doors to this life close and REAL LIFE begins. THAT will be fulfilling a dream. 🙂
wow – that video is even very visually appealing isn’t it? the photographer in you must enjoy some of those settings. 🙂
Amen, I love this song too.
What you said really makes me feel sorry for those who don’t know hope. I am really glad that I do especially in these terrible times. I love this song too. Every time I hear it I want to get down on my knees and give thanks for my hope in Him. It reminds me that I need to be in constant prayer for those that don’t have the peace that comes with a relationship with Christ.
I love love love this song. I went to get this song off of itunes and then found “What Do I know of Holy” which I also love. Lately this song has been on repeat in our house. When everything that Darin and I are dealing with and watching what everyone else is dealing with feels like it might crush us all, this song brings me back. How quickly I can forget that I am HIS. Thank you Lord for the hope that only comes from you. I can not imagine a life without the hope that only comes from God.
I cannot imagine life with out hope either, Jodi. The first time I heard this song Doni was a few months ago and it took me back to all that we have experienced along the road to finding our boys. As I read this post I remembered back to a conversation we had together (about 7 years ago) and it was about this very scripture reference. That is really what it comes down to when we feel we have lost it all….Still believing and the profound sense of hope He gives us, EVEN when we don’t like anything about what we “see” and “feel” here on this earth. I have heard someone say before that you never know God is all you need until He’s all you got….AMEN! I love that even though we don’t get our our answers this side of heaven, we have a Father who loves us more than we can imagine and can trust Him with all that we “see” right now. My favorite part of the song is “YOu’ve become my Hearts desire, I will sing your praises HIGHer!!!!!! Praying for all who is may be in that “season” of their life today….
Have you heard Chris Tomlin’s song “I Will Rise”?????
Remember, you definitely do not want all lifes answers on this side of heaven. Save a few really tough ones so you can watch them unfold from heaven’s perspective alongside Jesus. That’s when real reward comes. Jesus will tell you how pleased he is with you becasue you always beleived! If you doubt it read Hebrews 11 again.
Hey Sweet Girl!
I just wanted to say hi and let you know that this post took hold of my heart and massaged my soul! Loved the encouraging and inspiring ‘hope’ in your words and in Addison’s lyrics! Clearly sent from above! Our church has been doing a series on Hebrews this whole month, titled ‘Avoid the Drift’…thanks for the great post! LOVE it!
JOY! gina