by Patricia Bradley
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
Emily Dickinson
The poem by Emily Dickinson is one of my favorites...maybe because hope drives me to do the things I do when life tells me it's time to give up. Ever been there? It's like winter in my soul, and lately, it seems to be the only place I can be. So how does one keep going when pulling the covers over our head is so appealing?
Since it's not fair to ask a question without attempting to answer it, here goes. When life backs me against the wall and kicks me when I'm down, I remember two very different people.
First, Paul when he and Silas were thrown into prison. What did they do? They sang hymns and praises to God. If you want to see what the prison looked like, click here for photos of the prison. I'll wait for you to check it out...Don't know about you, but I would find it really difficult to pray in a place like that.
But Paul's hope was in something beyond him. It didn't mean he wouldn't face hardship. It did mean he didn't face it alone. And neither do you. God is always a prayer away.
Sometimes, we have to have a fighter's mentality, and the second person I think of is...Rocky Balboa. How many times have you seen the clip of him running on the beach as he trained...or the one with his hands raised high in the air in victory? He never gave up. What if he'd quit the last day before his fight?
I wrote for thirty-two years before my first book was published. Along the way, God gave me what I call "God-winks". The very first thing I ever wrote was published by Woman's World. And every time I was about to give up, they bought another story. You can read the last one on my website. Click here.
But what if I'd given up at the beginning of year thirty? That's when Revell offered me a contract for Shadows of the Past. And this year I return to Logan Point, the setting of the first series with a new book!
Sometimes it's good to revisit our victories when life throws those fastballs, and then do the next right thing. Remember Paul and Silas, and turn to God and praise Him no matter what the circumstances. And then get back up and try again like Rocky Balboa. Remember, winter will pass and spring is coming!
And now back to my writing cave to work on edits for that book that releases in November.
Leave a comment or a prayer request and I will pray for you...and enter you in a drawing for a Spring garden flag. My daughter makes them so it will be special. :-)
Oh, sometimes it’s so hard to praise God in some circumstances! I’ve been a little disappointed with Him the last few years. Guess I shouldn’t admit that on here but He knows what I’m thinking.
ReplyDeleteduellonlysis at aol dot com
I know how you feel. And you're right, He already knows.
Deleteinteresting post
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks, BN!
DeleteI can't imagine singing and praising God in such circumstances as Paul and Silas found themselves. Those pictures give me shudders!
ReplyDeleteI think it is out of the depth of such trials that Paul was able to write so much of the New Testament. He had proven God and found Him faithful and trustworthy. I think that's why your books resonate with me so much. You aren't writing out of a "life is nothing but smooth sailing" past either. God is using the depth of your relationship with Him to touch other lives.
I'm excited we're returning to Logan Point! I remember waiting on pins and needles for each new book to come out in the series!
carrottopfromtexas2@gmail.com
Aww, thank you L! And I agree that Paul's writings reflect his relationship with God. I would have a hard time doing what he did in that prison!
DeleteI do have a prayer request. Could you please pray for my younger brother who was diagnosed with fourth stage lung cancer. The sad thing is that he has never smoked in his life but contracted it due to a genetic anomaly. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteOh Cherie, I lift your brother up to God for total healing. I will be praying for him. Just put him on my refrigerator and will pray when I pass by it!
DeleteBut Paul's hope was in something beyond him. It didn't mean he wouldn't face hardship. It did mean he didn't face it alone. And neither do you. God is always a prayer away.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, we have to have a fighter's mentality, and the second person I think of is...Rocky Balboa. How many times have you seen the clip of him running on the beach as he trained...or the one with his hands raised high in the air in victory? He never gave up. What if he'd quit the last day before his fight?
I love this part of the blog. When hope seems all but lost we need to keep our head up and keep going. Never give up. Thank you for this today.
I'm glad it spoke to you!
DeleteI thought this is such a wonderful and appropriate blog topic, particularly at this time of year, but it is always needed and appropriate. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLove your examples of Paul and Rocky Balboa and how appropriate of how they show exactly how we should be in our own lives. It's like God is telling us to go the distance because we aren't alone, he's always by our side, if we really want to gain the rewards he has in story for us. Thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay!
DeleteWe sometimes need to be reminded that God is with us always! Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteSherry Brown
ozdot4@sbcglobal.net
My hope is that God will speak to you through the post. :-)
DeleteGoing through a long 'storm' right now I know how it feels
ReplyDeleteCrystal, praying right now that your storm will abate!
DeleteYour posts are always so encouraging.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHope is such a gift! I would appreciate prayer for our financial situatio. The past 18 months has been really tough. My husband had to pick up a second job.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for your new book!
Heather Mitchell crhbmitchellfam@gmail.com
Oh, Heather, I'll be praying for your financial situation!
DeleteThank you for sharing this. Many times it is tempting to pull the covers back up and stay in bed. Your words are an encouragement I will remember in those times.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carolyn. So many times I'm tempted to do just that! But that doesn't make my problem go away. So with God's help I face it. <3
DeleteSome seasons are just hard. :-( Adding you to my prayer list.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy. God is helping me through my hard season right now.
DeleteI’m reading and listening to the BIBLE RECAP by Tara-Leigh Cobble for my daily devotional. It is written in chronological order. We are reading Job now. If anyone had a difficult life with seemingly little hope, I would always name him first. When we compare our life to his, we should never complain or ask why. God knows exactly why and plans for it to be for our best if we stay the course.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Charlotte. And that, like Job, we may never know the reason why we have trials this side of heaven. What we do know is God is with us through the trial.
DeleteI think I would pray even more being in a place like that. God will Never leave us, He is Always with us. My word for this year is Hope, and with prayer comes Hope. Prayer and Hope keep me going. God is Good All of the Time. Have a great weekend. Alicia Haney. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alicia! I have a friend who was on hospice and the word she chose for 2025 was REJOICE. I'm rejoicing with her right now as she is in the presence of her Savior.
DeleteThank You for this amazing post God is always by our side and he never leaves us Many prayers coming! Sarahbaby601973(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah. And you are so right. We don't go through anything without Him by our side.
DeleteCindy Merrill ( writer61@yahoo.com): My prayer request is for my husband 's company- we're trying to relocate Quansor Corporation, looking for a community willing to help us.
ReplyDeletePraying, Cindy! And praying you feel God holding you tight.
DeleteEmily Dickinson was so wise. I love her works and wisdom. I am doing well, but I ask for prayer for my cousin, her husband died via suicide and she has two young boys.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that my Dad may have pulmonary fibrosis. They believe it may have been caused by Covid. He needs to return to Ann Arbor, MI for a specialized CAT scan. We have to try to schedule it around the winter weather. Thank you so much for your prayers. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteDebra, I'll be praying for good traveling weather and that the CT scan will give a more positive diagnosis.
DeleteI always ask for prayers for my family they struggle a lot and I pray for them a lot too. Thank you. I will keep you in mine as well. Dreadrake1@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteDrea, I'll be praying for your family--that they will turn their struggles over to God and seek His answer to them.
DeleteThis is very uplifting and encouraging, thank you! It seems likes God always has his plans and He will always be there to guide us through. God bless.
ReplyDeletecwkuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
I agree, Emily. God bless you as well.
DeleteThanks for a thoughful post. I hadn't heard the poem by Dickinson before!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favorites. There are more verses, but these are the best.
DeleteThis was such a special article and I loved every word of it. What comes to my mind when we are facing challenges in life as we all do, is that when we are brokenhearted, maybe we’ve lost our way and so many things, I try to remember, that when we only see one set of footprints in the sand, that is when God carries us. Your article brought all of this to the light.
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely perseverance and it paid off for you! Speaking of Godwinks, have you ever seen any of the the Godwink Christmas movies? Lela W.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your inspiring post and for the great poem! That's great that you didn't give up on your writing. My family and I have been struggling, if you could say some prayers for us that would be wonderful.
ReplyDelete