I usually post pictures of beautiful flowers in my yard. This picture is not beautiful, but it is real. This is how my once beautiful camellia bush looks. It is an “evergreen” – although now it is not. It is brown and dead looking.

So I face the decision of whether to cut it way back, wait to see if any new growth emerges, or just cut it down.

I am holding on to hope. I am waiting until May 15th and then I will decide how much to cut back. ANY glimmer of green will be a sign that the bush is not dead.

• Hope means I don’t give up too soon.

• Hope means waiting since there may be life lurking in the roots that will spread upward into the stems.

• Hope means trust in what is not seen. I don’t see life – but it may still be there.’

Isn’t that how I often respond when disappointments occur in life? My first reaction when things don’t go my way is to give up. “It looks dead – what’s the use?” Then, because I tend toward an optimistic outlook of life, I look closer. Yet I still may not “see” a positive outcome. Do I hold on to hope?

Many of my disappointments in life come because a person or group has failed me or let me down. (or I think they have) My thoughts go toward blaming others instead of taking responsibility for what I can personally do. That is more difficult, isn’t it? It is SO much easier to blame others!

Sometimes my greatest hopes aren’t fulfilled. I begin to question my faith and God’s love for me. I must always remember I live in a broken, fallen world and that trials, disappointments, and suffering are part of living on this earth. Yet Jesus came to save this world! My HOPE is in Jesus. I hold on to him.

In Romans 5:3-5 Paul says

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Hope in Jesus never fails.

I must hold onto hope and not give up. The outcome may be very different than what I expected or even hoped for. Yet God’s love for me never ends and God is faithful.

I will watch carefully for any sign of life in my camellia bushes. I don’t see any sign of life yet…..but I hold on to hope.