As I sat during my quiet time, I thought about the sentiment from The Magic of Belle Isle, “never stop looking for what’s not there.” I had never stopped looking, but also wondered if it would ever be there and what was I looking for?
We all have dreams and hopes. Some are tangible; others intangible, but always something is there we can’t see or touch. Over the past fourteen years I’ve been alone, my reflections of “what I couldn’t see” have been countless. For I didn’t see so many of the circumstances which would alter daily living for the duration of my life. How often does this occur with each of us?
Many times because we are hopeful, we overlook what we neglect to accept in “what’s not there.” We may believe and anticipate the job will be better, if I remain longer and give it more effort. The family conflicts will improve as we all mature. My marriage will be restored if I change my feelings and attitude.
The job never improves because the superior or company doesn’t value our efforts. Family members possess the same personalities, ideals and attitudes, so the conflicts endure. Our spouse had determined he or she did not love us or desire to make the marriage work and began a new relationship with another. No matter your determination and diligence to repair the relationship, it will remain “what’s not there.”
Perhaps “what’s not there” is tangible. We hope for, have faith and trust for a better house, newer car or “bucket list” vacation. We sincerely believe that in time what we looked for will be there.
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for certain things to happen. It allows us to look toward a better future. As we know from the bible, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen and trust is a firm belief in the truth, strength or ability of someone or something.
As we look for “what’s not there” it may never develop. Does this mean we lacked hope, faith and/or trust? Pastor Rick Warren reminds each of us, “when hope dies because a prayer or dream never came to pass…disappointments stretch our faith, turning unmet expectations into opportunity to trust God’s character rather than just a specific outcome.”
Even though the thoughts in the movie were “never stop looking for what’s not there”, sometimes we must. We remain in a “rut” and can’t move forward if we refuse to accept, it isn’t there and may never happen. That’s okay too because God has a bigger and better plan for us.
As I’ve listened to Rick Warren’s daily devotion on hope, I agreed with him completely, that sometimes our “what’s not there” is not on this earth. I said to someone recently that perhaps my sorrows in this life are enormous so that when I get to heaven, I will be able to praise God greater for His goodness and love to me. Isaiah 40:31 NKJ, “but those who wait on the Lord renew their strength…”
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