What I Want My Daughters to Know, Part 5

Set Your Hope On Jesus

I want you to know that the posture of the Christian life is one of waiting. It is in this tension of already-but-not-yet that you will find the beautiful jewel, as it is called, of contentment. I desire that you learn to live in the present reality of today and set your hope on the certain realities of eternity, rather than the what-ifs and maybes of tomorrow. Think of your desires as a mountain with a throne on top. Whatever sits on the throne reigns. Desires are not bad to have, but when they sit on your throne they develop a life and joy-controlling power over you. When you recognize crippling discontentment and disappointment in your life, you can probably trace that back to the idolization of one of your desires. Now that you do not have what you want or have what you did not want, the hope that controls your heart is disturbed, and you feel destroyed. Seek to place Jesus day after day on the throne over all your desires. Submit all of your desires to him, knowing he will give you exactly what you truly need and what is best. King Jesus promises peace, joy, sanctification, and ultimate glorification. No one can ever take away those things, and these are the promises we set our hope on—not the promises of earth that are thin, wavering, and unstable. Grow in your understanding of the promises of your king, and grow in setting your affections and hopes on those sureties. You will struggle not to put your hope in your own success or marriage or children or that beautiful home or more human approval. When you don’t have these things when you want them, remember that Jesus is king, not family. Jesus is promised you, not marriage. Jesus brings joy, not a salary. Wait for him, and wait for his promises to come to pass. Jesus always keeps his promises and always holds on to you.