Huh? Is there hope in defeat? Is there hope in the humiliation of accepting a failure? How can that be? I’m not sure that I completely understand that concept but read my explanation and draw your own conclusions.

Hope is such a vital, useful virtue. Remember learning about hope as a child? It put meaning to the concept of trust and a reason to push through difficult times. Hope is another of the fantastic gifts that we have received from our Creator God. I learned that God will never abandon me. Hope sustains me through the times when doubt appears and questions whether that is true.

Hope got me through many strange and confusing events when I was growing and learning about life. However, I was continually trying to control many aspects of, not only my life, but others, often with uncomfortable results.

Here’s a quote that reminded of those times: There is a powerful hope in admitting defeat, in giving up my mad exertions to control situations that are not mine to control. (For Today Overeater Anonymous, Inc. 1982)

Remember, I’m the person who thought that just the right prayer and good behavior could control the weather! When the weather turned nasty, after I had asked for sunshine, I took the blame. I apologized for it. I was defeated because I couldn’t deliver nice weather for my visitors. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?

The day that I accepted that I had no control over the weather, my kids’ or husband’s behavior, or the world’s problem was a day of ultimate freedom for me. I gratefully turn these issues over to God.

I turn these issues over with the powerful hope of an answer. Not a pre-determined one that I have conjured by myself, but an answer from an omnipotent God who loves me and you unconditionally.

Terri