A Prayer of Hope During the Holidays - Grit & Grace

Hope is a team sport. The sentence leapt off of my phone screen. When it’s hard to find, we need teammates – people encouraging us with reminders of what hope looks like. So I offer this humble petition. A prayer filled with grit and grace, and a prayer of hope during the holidays.

The Grit

Lord, I know both the grit and grace is used to grow me. The grit has been on full display, making it hard to see your grace that faithfully meets me each day.

All of these challenges are building something in me, I just know it. Your word tells me that ALL things work together for good. Even if it’s just learning how to push through when I’m struggling, it’s something good to be thankful for.

Stopping is my natural response when I’m tired. And I know, there’s a time to rest when I’m tired. But there’s also a time to keep going. Doing something that’s challenging when you’re already tired and struggling is not my idea of fun. 

You didn’t promise me fun, though. Your promise is restoration and transformation. And you even tell me that there will be joy, the kind that can’t be expressed with mere words. I’ll take that over “fun” any day. 

But it’s hard to hope when emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual fatigue has set in.

The Grace

At times like these, strengthening is what my hope muscle needs. That won’t happen in a vacuum. 

Hope is a team sport.

There’s no “I” in team, or so the saying goes. And there’s no “I” in hope, either.

When I struggle to hope, it’s hard to see and believe that any good awaits me. Thank you for the gift of teammates – people on my side – to help encourage me with reminders.

Fresh strength meets my weak hope. An unexpected hand reaching in, lifting me up. Someone to help carry my burdens.

Thank you for the friend that is just there for me, without trying to fix me. Your Spirit inspires that surprise text with a prayer just for me. Cards received with encouraging words just because. Lord, you are faithful to remind that person what I shared with them. They listened, and cared enough to circle back around and ask me about that thing I shared with them.

Thank you for the free food that shows up at my doorstep, feeding a hunger I wasn’t even aware I had.  For the person stopping by to offer their support with their presence. Not because they had to or for some alternate purpose in trying to get me to do something else or ask me for a favor, but simply because they wanted to.

Hope is a team sport.

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31

Inhale – My hope is tired and struggling.
Exhale – You are faithful to renew my strength, Lord.

Inhale – I believe.
Exhale – Help my unbelief.

Inhale – You are my hope, Lord.
Exhale – May I be your hands and feet of hope to others.

Amen.

This year isn’t over yet.

If you’re like me, then you might be getting a little tired of all the “2020 is the worst year ever” memes.

This year isn’t over yet. It isn’t time to throw in the towel.

I’m ready to take back what’s left of this year with a little hope – who’s with me? 

On that note, here are a few links that I hope (pun intended) will fill you with fresh hope:

• Two Miami Mom Collective posts that may be a source of hope for anyone struggling or grieving during the holidays – Good Grief: Struggling With Sadness During the Holidays and Dealing With Loss During the Holidays.
• Some Christmas cheer from last year – The Greatest Gift.

Becky is a Miami native, and has lived here all of her life. Married to her husband for over 20 years, they lead a very active lifestyle along with their three teenagers and Riley, their rescue dog. Becky loves to teach, and has had the awesome privilege of home educating her children for over twelve years. When not teaching academics, Becky loves to equip, encourage, and empower women through the teaching of her group fitness classes. Becky and her husband lead various ministries, and their family loves to serve the community through the countless opportunities provided over the past twenty years+ in their local church. She enjoys filling her “free” time with reading, writing, watching movies, and just spending time with the family. Becky has a passion for living her life with grit and grace, and encouraging others to do the same.