Starting in mid-February I kept hearing these two words “Hope Again” when I sat down to read God’s word, during prayer, meditation, and worship. They were needed words as many things going on in my life, let alone the nation, and world, have been anything but hope inspiring. Whenever I felt that nudge from Holy Spirit to renew my hope, my response wasn’t stellar. It was more a question: Why can’t I hope in You like I used to, Lord? The cares of life had certainly bogged me down.
Praise God a friend told me about what was happening with the young people at Asbury College. Oh My! It was like a lightning bolt out of heaven of pure unadulterated hope hit my heart and the oppression dampening my spirit broke. It brought tears and great joy. It was Romans 15:13 fullfilled in my soul: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since that day in February the elevated hope has not waned. Circumstances of my life haven’t changed, and in fact I am now dealing with more pain from the RA than ever, but it doesn’t matter. Refreshing, renewing, reformation of the way we experience “church” and worship our God is underway in our nation! To me that means souls will be saved, and that is what I have been longing for and waiting for.
Then I had the vision… it’s permeating my mind even as I type. It’s of green fields, rolling hills, flowers electric with color, trees of all varieties swaying in a refreshing breeze. Birds are soaring overhead. Puffy white clouds against a clear blue sky. And then I saw Jesus, yes, then I saw Jesus smiling and hundreds of young ones running into His arms. How His arms could hold them all I don’t know, but they did. And He, Jesus, said to me, “Here is your reason to hope again!” The children and young people of our nation have been lied to, deceived, misled, violated and our God is in the process of changing all that! His loving kindness is drawing them!
It’s Jesus’ working in the hearts of the young ones that is the central reason I keep writing, praying, and believing. For I know the kind of revival I have been asking God for all these many years is happening right now. My hope was anemic but never gone, now it is Jesus strong ! Nothing, no one, can stop what Holy Spirit is doing and will do to save this generation. It is indeed seedtime, it is Spring in the heavenlies, salvation, deliverance, healing are all blooming! No matter what the headlines say, or politicians do, new life has come to the USA.
If you have been battling hopelessness, feel oppressed, or discouraged like I had been before this experience, ask Holy Spirit to guide you to the reports about the college revivals and youth group revivals going on right now. The passion for God is spreading! We have to shake off the doldrums with His help and when we do, we become part of this completely new, not like it used to be or was in the past, revival too! We become new wine skins ready to hold the new wine He is pouring out.
Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
With Joy in our amazing God!
Cheryl
Copyright 2023 Cheryl S Birch. May be shared in whole with author and copyright included. Photos require a Shutterstock license.
Notes from Heaven 