Winter is dreary, like I said last week. But this winter in North Idaho has been extremely mild compared to previous years. We have plants popping up from the ground, and buds are starting to appear on the trees and bushes.

It gives a sense of hope that the dreary is coming to an end and spring is on its way.

This week, I was reminded how important what we put our hope and even deeper than hope, what we put our assurance in. It’s so easy for me to try to find assurance in knowledge, control, and overthinking. Yet, isn’t it interesting that without my assurance in Christ alone, my hope so easily wavers.

I mean, it’s not that surprising. Obviously, if I’m getting my assurance from circumstances, my own knowledge, or *trying* to control my surroundings, I’m not going to be at peace. The world might say that those things will bring peace, and honestly, they probably do, for a little bit. But then something earth-shattering, against your plans, out-of-the-blue happens, and you find yourself just trying to keep your head above water.

These false assurances quickly become idols. When our assurance is in Christ, we are free to live freely. When our assurance is in the things, people, our control, circumstances, etc. I find myself becoming a slave to these different things. I can’t live freely because I’m serving these things that aren’t in turn serving me.

Jesus wants to serve us. He wants us to live freely. When we live serving other stuff, we can’t serve Him, because that other stuff becomes a god.

I think it’s easy to find peace for a little while in things of this world. But until I realized that a life full of assurances in other people, circumstances, control, or things let my peace and rest be fleeting, I would continue to search for those things because they distracted me. And that’s exactly how Satan works. Distraction to keep us from living in truth, growing, and trusting in God. Distractions keep us from living in our full potential and identity in Christ. I still lose my peace because I’m human, but I snap back quicker, and that’s a testament to the growth in my life and faith. (thanks Rockhouse)

Budding branches reminded me this week that in Christ, there is always hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope that He makes a good impact on our lives. Hope that even if the circumstance is horrible, there is still joy to be had. Hope in His promises to His people as a whole and to us. Hope that one day, we will get to meet Jesus face-to-face.

Listening prayer has been a huge part of this growth and knowing where my assurance lies. When you experience God speaking to you, the Bible comes to life, verses take on deeper meaning, and you have assurance that the words on a page in the Bible can mean something for you specifically. Listening prayer is the connector between head and heart. It meshes everything together and gives you a deeper understanding of yourself, the world, and God.

So, this week, when you take a walk or are in your yard, notice the budding branches, the plants poking up, and remember that there is always hope, especially when your assurance is in the right things.