House of Cards

For many, including me, 2020 seems to be the year of disappointments so far. The Covid-19 virus, along with many other disturbing and chaotic events in the world, has changed a lot of people's plans.

The hubby and I have had our fair share of 2020 disappointments. A planned April European river tour has been postponed. Bob's retirement day in May after 47 long years of working couldn't even be celebrated with a steak dinner at a nice restaurant. A 45-day June and July summer road trip to the western United States national parks and the Canadian Rockies had to be completely cancelled. Many of my author and speaking events were cancelled or postponed indefinitely.

And we're no different than anyone else - everyone has had plenty of life changes and downers this year.

However, when our hopes are tied to our circumstances, because of the way life usually works out, we're bound to be disappointed. The reality is that life on this side of heaven hardly ever meets our wishes and expectations. Instead, it's like a fragile house of cards we've stacked on a table. We tiptoe around it, holding our breaths and hoping nobody sneezes or bumps the table.

Today I read Jeremiah 17:7. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."

That simple verse served as a timely reminder to me that true hope isn't tied to our circumstances. It is only tied to God. He is the one who can work through all our situations, hurts, and disappointments and can readjust them all to work for our good. He loves us with an everlasting love and patiently calls to us when we tie our hopes and expectations to earthly, foolish things.

Lord, help me to always keep my hopes and dreams centered in You.

And now friend, let's go knock down that silly house of cards. He's got a mansion in heaven waiting for us.