Surprise

Last spring, we decided to redo our front yard flowerbeds.  My husband and daughter made these nice wooden rectangle containers to sit on top of some decorative rocks and we planted some succulents in them.

I was pretty hopeless they would make it through the winter.  Temperatures plummet below zero frequently from December through February. Succulents usually live in places that never dip below freezing, plus we had planted them above ground in boxes where the cold could go completely through.

I didn’t have much hope of seeing them again this spring. 

The other day, I decided I would do a walk around yard since the weather has warmed up a little.  I could see bits of green grass poking through.  The trees are warming up and the sap is starting to flow causing small leaf buds to appear. 
And because curiosity got the best of me, I sauntered over to my rectangle succulent planters and peered in, not expecting much.

It was like someone gave me a surprise party, underneath the leaves that collected in the top of the planters last fall, I found beautiful peach and burgundy “rose” buds of succulents.

It gave me hope when I thought there was none.

There seems to be a current of hopelessness running a muck these days.  Feeling hopeless when we go to the grocery store, hopeless we can keep this “invisible enemy” at bay. 

But underneath the leaves of hopelessness, there is an answer if you are willing to look.  It’s God’s Word.  He is the Author of hope.  He is the Divine Encourager of our hearts if we are willing to spend some time in His Word. 

Jesus give us a promise of hope when He tells His disciples in John 16:33 (NIV), “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, dear ones, there is hope!