There are many things I’ve “wished ” for over the years.

I’ve wished for straight hair and for Kirk Cameron to be my boyfriend.

I’ve wished I was taller, shorter, younger, older, smarter, and cuter.

I’ve even wished for a pony!

There’s an old song written by Dusty Springfield that goes, “wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’. (Try to get THAT out of your head now!)

 The difference between a wish and hope.

I have a vivid memory of my oldest brother researching our ancestry for a school project.

He told us our family is part Scottish.

Well, I assumed that because of this, I would have the natural ability to become a world-famous “Scottish” dancer.

For weeks I went out to our driveway and hopped around (thinking I was making up some EPIC Scottish dancing moves) WISHING someone would “discover” my Scottish dancing talents.

Unfortunately Fortunately, my Scottish dancing wish never came true. (Thank goodness there wasn’t  YouTube “back in my day”.)

After that, I decided to focus my “talents” on becoming the next Mary Lou Retton.

I “practiced” leaping across my bed for HOURS at a time.

I had the “finish” pose NAILED!

The rest of it?

Not so much.

Wish is a term that refers to a desire or point to something one longs to have.

It is an impossibility or to desire something with little chance of it coming true.

I could wish all day, but I was never going to get discovered for my Scottish dancing talent.

No matter how many vaults across my canopy bed I made, the Olympic Gymnastics Team was not going to see my amazing finish pose and ask me to join them.

In spite of not getting things I have wished for, what I DO have is HOPE.

Pete Miller wrote “To hope is to anticipate a future event with a confident expectation of its fulfillment.”

To put it another way, hope means to have confidence in the future.

I hope The Kid grows up to serve God.

I hope to live a long happy life with The Husband.

I hope to grow in my pursuit of purpose.

I hope to move into our new home soon.

I hope to take a nap.

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“As You” is not a passive phrase.

You take steps to believe in Him.

The more steps you take, the more confidence you have.

Which is scarier? Doing something for the first time or doing it the second? Or third?

What would you do if you were overflowing with confidence?

Last week I talked about God’s unfailing love.

Remember Isaiah 54:10 “Mountains may move and hills shake but God’s love will NOT be moved from you.”

No matter what, God’s love will NOT be moved from you.

God will fill you with joy and peace AS YOU (take action towards) believe so that you may overflow with confident expectation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, you can have HOPE (confidence) knowing that you are loved with HIS unfailing Love.

Psalm 62:5

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

What is something YOU wished for as a child?