When I set out on this adventure of supporting women facing sexual betrayal and brokenness in their marriage, I did so with fear and trembling. Even though I felt the Lord calling me into these deeper waters and knew He was the one to open this door for me, that did not mean I walked through it fearlessly. In fact, I picked up a big bag of fear and carried it with me.
My journal pages and prayer times were covered in words of self doubt, fear, uncertainty and disqualifications. I told the Lord at least 50 times why this was a big mistake. I reminded Him that I was a hot mess and not qualified to sit with these women in their pain. As I would whisper those pleas under my breath over and over, I would always hear in return, “I just need you to give them a safe place. I will do the rest.” The more often I heard these words, the more confident I grew in knowing this was all He was asking of me.
As I began offering these women a safe place and showed up for them week after week in our groups, they began having hope in their own stories. I think me “showing up” helped them still have hope in mankind. Our conversations would turn to having hope in God and His plan, and eventually, it would shift to having hope in recovery work and the realization that God was in the middle of it all. As time went on, my hope was strengthened, too. I had a front row seat to witness miracle after miracle in women’s lives, and have had the honor to celebrate their small steps forward and rejoice in their big victories. I have listened as they shared a story and then said, “I don’t know Lyschel, I think I just experienced a miracle from God,” and I would reply, “Let’s call it that!”
Hope isn’t something we have to work up, although sometimes, like my coffee cup, I set it down. I believe hope comes from the Lord and is a pass through, similar to the fruits of the spirit. The fruits of the spirit are passed through to us, available through the Spirit that lives in us.
We receive joy and are able to share joy with others. I believe it’s the same for hope. We receive hope from the Lord, therefore we are able to share it freely with others.
Hope is believing in the things not yet seen. Hope is trusting God to do amazing things in another person’s story because you have watched Him do amazing things in yours.
Casting hope means you get to sit in confident assurance that the Lord will show up.
I know I can’t offer a woman any guarantees in her story. I have no idea what the end destination will be for her marriage, her husband or even her own healing. There are so many variables in each of those places. However, I place my confidence in the promises of God. He promises never to leave or forsake us. He promises to guide us when we seek Him wholeheartedly. He promises to use our weaknesses for His gain. When I spend time with the Lord and grow in this knowledge, I begin to settle into these Truths found in His word. I can show up with these promises in hand, and with a greater sense of hope for another person’s story.
So my official job title is Lead Hope Caster with Hope Redefined because I do just that. I cast hope for others because it’s a pass through gift. I pray you will consider yourself a hope caster, too.
