I hope it works out
Ok that’s great…but what does that really mean?
Does it sound confident? Does it sound uplifting?
No not really.
I actually think it sounds a bit depressing when I say it to people. I say that phrase to myself too sometimes. I think it’s best to explore a bible verse that comes to mind relating to that phrase. And to try to get this figured out.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”
Yes, that sounds much better. I’ll take that instead. The “hoped for” in that verse is filled with good expectation.
So why when I say the phrase “I hope it works out," why it doesn’t feel very hopeful? I mean the word hope is included in the phrase so you would “hope” it’s encouraging. On the other hand, the bible verse is definitely hopeful and encouraging. Perhaps the phrase feels so different because it’s impossible to compare the outcome of a common phrase in the world to God’s holy word which is far above the world. God’s word doesn’t include worldly phrases that may or may not “work out”. God’s word IS.
Assurance. Conviction. Those are strong words in the bible verse. But they don’t go along with the feelings associated with common phrase “I hope it works out”. So what is the point of even saying the phrase then? Even to myself? I don’t really know. Am I giving up ahead of time? It kinda seems like it. Do I really have that little of faith in something to “work out”? I guess maybe at times I do. So what should I be saying instead? I think this will be much easier to explore approaching this from the viewpoint of when I say the phrase to myself.
What is the actual issue here? Well, the verse starts with faith. So I’ll start there. Do I not have faith in myself? I think I do at times. But when I say the phrase “I hope it works out," I believe I’m actually doubting myself in those moments. And I guess doubting myself doesn’t feel too good. And speaking of doubting myself…it’s pretty funny I’m writing this entry using the skill I doubt myself the most in…writing (insert smile here)(or would it be insert sad here?)(you pick).
Assurance. That sounds wonderful. It sounds reassuring (a good thing since it is the root word). A comforting way to think. Sadly, when I say “I hope it works out” I mean it in the exact opposite way. I say it when I’m not confident in the outcome. Then why even say it? I have no idea, but “hopefully” by the end of this entry I’ll have more clarity.
CONVICTION. Yes. It’s an all caps kind of word. Powerful. The outcome is fully believed ahead of time. And again, it sounds glorious. I’ll take it. But if I look back at when I say “I hope it works out," I don’t feel conviction. Why? What do I feel? I really don’t know.
So far, I’ve asked myself a lot of questions that I seem to have no answers for. And honestly, I am starting to think…“Is this entry going anywhere at all”? No.
I am getting the feeling of it being all over the place. I think it’s because so much of it has been focused on me and not God. For example, I’m quite embarrassed to even admit there’s a paragraph above that I attempt to talk about faith and God isn’t even included in it .That’s quite humbling. This entry is a mess because it’s too focused on my worldly views and not God’s views. God is orderly and organized. And clearly this entry is not. This whole thing is going downhill because I’m not focusing on God. Hence the multiple issues. It’s time to reset my thoughts on God.
…I hope it works out that this entry will go more smoothly as I focus on God instead of myself…
God. Focus on God. That’s his command to me. And I think in the past, the problem is when I’ve said “I hope it works out” is that I’ve completely left God out of it. And it’s quite apparent, as you are making it thru this entry, it’s easy for me to leave God out of things. But, I honestly believe that is excellent news! Because now there’s nothing for me to figure out. I only need to focus on God. And to include God in EVERYTHING. And even though that’s not always easy to implement (which again is evident in this entry), it is at least easy to understand.
And there’s more good news! Thankfully, everything in that verse comes from God not me. As a child of God, He provides me with faith, assurance and conviction as I seek Him and His word. This is all starting to come together. No wonder the worldly hope in that phrase sounded bleak. Nothing in the worldcan compare to God.
So all the questions leading to nowhere can be solved by simply including God in the “hope of it working out”.
So perhaps I should change the title of this entry.
God, I believe it will all work out.
So here it is.
Blog entry Twelve
Follow God and Bake from your Heart,
Ellie