We are not born with a gentle and quiet spirit. Our parents don’t give it to us. We can’t take a class, wear a patch, or resolve ourselves to have one. Perhaps more frustrating than this, it isn’t something we can give our children. We can discipline their behavior, changing their outward appearance, but we are incapable of changing their hearts. God changes hearts. He raises dead hearts which are focused on self, and transforms them into flourishing hearts with the imperishable quality of power under control and peace in Him. As I read 1 Peter 3:1-7 I was struck with how the women of old, such as Sarah, could do what they did because their hope was in God. Just as Jesus in chapter 2 of 1 Peter entrusted Himself to the One who judges Righteously while being reviled, we too can entrust ourselves to God during the harder moments of life and our hearts can sing this song: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” Job 13:15
It it this hope that drives a believer’s entire life. Earnestly I pray for my children to have this hope. When we are in the house, walk along they way, lie down, and rise up there are lessons each moment to encourage them to look upwards. To see the God of the Bible not as a possible way of life, but as the very source of life for each moment. Life is not always easy. There are painful moments to walk through, trying times to survive and overwhelming emotions that can steal joy. Yet in each of these moments we find ourselves as parents trying to point our children to Him. Hope in God little one. Don’t hope in me. Don’t hope in yourself. Don’t hope in circumstance. Don’t hope in comfort. Don’t hope in routine. Hope in God.
Psa. 146:5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
While we are not born with gentle and quiet spirits, we know that this is precious to God and only comes from Redeemed hearts hoping in Him. It is to this end we we pray for our children as we greet them early in the mornings and kiss them goodnight. We pray as Paul did,
Rom. 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
