The Lesson: Joy & Hope
By Brita Crouse
“Be joyful in hope…”
Romans
12:12a (NIV)
Everyone has a story. Everyone has those defining moments where
their world is changed and life as they know it is gone for good. These are the
stories that contribute to who we are and how we see the world. This is my
story, the story of how God taught me joy & hope, patience & suffering,
and faith & prayer.
They say the best laid plans often go awry.
It’s true. You know what I mean? We plan and we plan, but
ultimately it’s God’s plan that prevails.
I had it all figured out. I knew what was in store. I’m a
planner, and I daily fulfill that personality trait. I had just graduated from
high school; I was going to my first choice university to major in a field that
I had dreamed about for years. I had best friends, one of whom would be my
roommate. I was on top of the world.
The hope of an amazing future was right in front of me.
The joy of pursuing my dreams, a new beginning and uncertain
possibilities, was tangible.
“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.” [1]
Do you have these moments too? Where you are so full of joy,
you overflow with hope? When things are so perfectly laid out, it feels
as if nothing could go wrong?
Yet God uses any and every circumstance to teach us. And He
certainly taught me… right then and there - - when I was feeling invincible - -
that His plans take precedence.
A week after graduation, my family reeled at the cancer
diagnosis of one of our own. Shocking. The kind of shock that brings you to
your knees. Yet, we remained full of hope. We rallied together as a
family and a community, uncertain of what was to come, but taking joy in
our time together.
These feelings of hope & joy remained and carried me
through that summer. In the fall, with the encouragement of my parents, I stuck
to my plans and began my freshman year of college, many miles and hours from
home. I had the joy of rooming with my best friend and the hope
of a fresh start, away from the cancerous situation at home.
How could I have known what the coming weeks and months would
bring? God did. And He was preparing my heart to learn.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What are you
currently taking joy in? What are you hopeful for? How can you give thanks to
God for these things?
FURTHER READING:
[1] Romans 15:13
Brita recently moved
back to her home state of Wisconsin where she works as an Elementary School
Counselor. She and her family have attended Oakwood for 20 years.
