If you could carry your hope in a bucket this morning, would yours be empty? If this is the case, it was probably difficult for you to get out of bed this morning. Did that cloud of failure hovering over you last night keep you awake? Are you too tired to face today? What is your problem: addictions, incarceration, financially bankrupt, family problems, lonely, or something going on in your life giving you the thoughts of ending it.? Yes I agree, any of these could drain all hope from your bucket. I want you to procrastinate thinking about your problems for 7 minutes.
I had a leaky outdoor water faucet a few years ago. Instead of fixing it, I just put an empty 5 gallon bucket under it. After several hours, that bucket was running over. It filled up from one drip of water at a time. Hope can return to you in small increments just like the drops filled my bucket. Yes, it does take time, but not as long as you may think.
Who you are, what you have done, or the mess you have created doesn't concern me at the moment. What does concern me is you are my brother or sister in humanity and are hurting, helpless and feeling hopeless at this moment.
Ok. Let's begin. In the morning, just before sunrise I want you to go outside, sit in a chair or on the ground, facing the east. I then want you to look at the sun rising. Just look at it rising and not after it has risen enough to blind you. I don't want you to ruin your eyes. You have enough to deal with without ruining your eyes. Have you ever done this, watching the sun rise?
Now, as you look at that beautiful powerful sun come up above the eastern horizon, ask yourself this question, "Where did the sun come from?" While you are pondering this, notice how slowly the dark is replaced by light. Now you can see everything around you. Listen to the sounds around you. What do you hear? Birds singing? Squirrels barking? People going to work?
Feel the heat from the rising sun and the life it brings to the morning. Where did this big yellow ball come from? Did it come from nothing? Did it come into existence by a creator? Was that creator God? Guess what. He created that powerful ball in the sky to give us light, warmth, and many other numerous blessings. Think you are worthless and evil? He still created it for you as well as the righteous. ...for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust. (Matthew 5:45,KJV)
Get your bucket. Here is your first drop. God created the sun for you. Whether you are good or evil, he made it just for you. Do you realize what I just said? Right now you may feel worthless, hopeless, guilty and unimportant, yet you were created by the all powerful God who created the powerful sun just for you. Read it for yourself. Then God made two great lights: the greater to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. (Genesis 1:16, NKJV)
Also, I would like to ask you to read about how another, who thought of himself as a poor and lightly esteemed man, came from nothing to be a man after God's own heart. ( 1Samuel 18:23 and Acts 13:22) How did he come from an having an empty bucket of hope to one overflowing. He did as I am asking you to begin doing. Something had to get his attention and he was put in a position of needing fulfillment. He began to notice the rising and setting of the sun, and realizing what tremendous power was needed to create the sun that gave him warmth and light each day. Please take time to read Psalm 19:1-6. I believe this reveals to us how David prepared himself to have such a love for God, transforming his thoughts and actions to later be a man after God's own heart doing all His will.
Some of the drops in my bucket are the drops of hoping you will do this simple exercise. Feel free to set aside a least 7 minutes in the morning to watch the sunrise, notice its power and precision,your hope bucket will also fill and read the scriptures I have recommended.
If God created a powerful sun for you, why did He create you? Did you know we are created in his image and likeness? Of all of His creation, we are the only ones created in His image. Now read Genesis 1:26-27. You are not junk, worthless or hopeless. You have just let things of this world cover up the image you were created in. I did the same and everyone else has too. Please work with me as I show you the way you can get it back.
My email is rhepler52@gmail.com. You need to know God cares for you. Let me help you find the way back. If you want me to personally help you by email that is fine. I will keep it confidential or you can just read my blog post as we both study together. The only cost is your time.
Please share this blog post with someone you know who needs help. I just want to help. I am tired of seeing people living hopeless lives. God's word gives us hope of a better place. You have to trust Him. He doesn't lie.
Thanks for reading. I hope in some way I can help you. Give yourself another chance. Walk down a different path. You will begin to see your life differently when you do.
Rick Hepler
