Hopeful Living or Wishful Thinking

“I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.”

I have no idea why that little verse is stuck in my memory bank. I’m not sure where or when I first heard it or if it’s in some children’s book somewhere. But, I can envision a little child looking out her bedroom window to the brightest star she can see and whispering those words. With all of her innocent and naïve heart, she has faith in something outside of herself and hopes her wish will come true.

Contrast the little girl’s wishful thinking into actuality—into faith in a real and personal God that cares about the lives and future of those who seek him.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see…By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.[1]

Most of us grow out of wishful thinking. But then what?

·         What if you could always have hope that your current crisis would turn out okay?

·         What if you could wake up with confidence that no matter what happens to you today, somebody cares about you and your tomorrow?

·         What if you had assurance about the unknown future?

If you have hope, confidence and assurance not on a star but on God, you move from wishful thinking to hopeful living.

I’d like to hear your thoughts on this matter. 

You can find more intriguing writings like this at

http://www.keytofreedom.org/resources.html

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[1] Hebrews 11:1-3 (NLT)

Comments

[Janna]

I wish I may... Where would I be without wishful thinking coupled with hopeful living? :) I'd had to imagine my mental state.

You said: "If you have hope, confidence and assurance not on a star but on God, you move from wishful thinking to hopeful living."

That, my friend, is quotable. Way to sum up the truth in a nutshell.