A Future Filled With Hope

It happened between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

I went to the store to stock up on necessities.

As soon as I entered the store I saw a child.

She looked so cute seated in the shopping cart.

I could not help but smile.

When she saw me, she waved to me the way children do and said in a loud voice, “Hi!”

This startled her parents who had not noticed me yet.

I was waving back to her in the same way when they noticed me.

We shared a laugh before I resumed my shopping.

I encountered them several more times in the store and each time this scene replayed itself.

As I left the store I thought about this child and the life that she had so recently begun to explore.

Hers was a relatively new book with many chapters waiting to be written.

With New Year’s Day approaching, I thought about the many who would use the day to seek out new beginnings.

Resolutions would be made with the best of intentions.

The number kept would be an entirely different matter.

Many resolutions would fall by the wayside within days of being made.

Such is the nature of human weakness.

Are new beginnings even possible?

Is it possible to start anew with a clean slate?

Scripture assures us that is!

Isaiah 43:35 (NET) – I. I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for My sake; your sins I do not remember.

Hebrews 8:12 (NET) – “For I will be merciful towards their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”

Any past, no matter how stained, can be overcome.

We cannot do this on our own.

We need help.

We have to admit that to ourselves and also to God.

With His help, we can put the past forever behind us and live out the kind of life He has planned for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NET) – “For I know what I have planned for you,” says the LORD. “I have plans to prosper you not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com