Some people seem to always be smiling.
And some people rarely smile.
Which describes you?
Why the difference?
I’m thinking it’s because the first group are more hopeful than the second.
People filled with hopes are more inclined to smile than are those who lack hope.
Even in times of stress and loss, those possessing hope can look with optimism toward the day when they or their loved ones will be bathed in blessings.
They don’t know when it will happen necessarily, but they are convinced that it will.
It is the hope for a better life that sustains smile-prone college students in the midst of their “meat-grinder” junior year when mental and time and financial and emotional stresses are huge.
It is the hope for maturing, well-adjusted adult children that sustains smiling, godly parents as they try to impart God’s wisdom and display godly love to teen children struggling with worldly temptations.
And it is the hope for a never-ending celebration of perfect joy that keeps a smile on the face of hassled Christians who believe that nothing in this world can separate the faithful heart from God’s perfect heart (Romans 8).
I was prompted to recall these thoughts after reading Psalm 71:14 this morning in the One-Year Bible.
“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.”
Wow.
Always have hope?
Always praise?
Do I?
Do you?
We both need to grow in this respect, I’m sure.
Because some days find me smiling little, I know that my heart, mind and soul are not yet perfectly permeated with God’s promises.
Perhaps the same is true for you.
Why did King David write that he always had hope, even in seemingly hopeless times?
It was because he believed in God’s promises of provision, of strengthening, of divine leading and of an eternal reward.
God never failed to keep a promise made in the Bible. And He will never fail to keep the promises on which our hopes are based.
Now that’s something to smile and shout about.
As always, I love you
Martin
