We’re All Born With A Hole In Our Hearts

The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel 3:16

Three days last week I was in a training class. I am a part-time 911/Police dispatcher. This class was mandatory to keep my POST (Police Officer Standards Training) certificate current. Two days specifically focused on critical incidents and debriefing after a critical incident occurs. We were shown quite a few videos. Some were so very sad. In one we witnessed the debriefing of the EMT’s from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings, in another we saw the aftermath of an officer involved shooting and later watched the unthinkable…a dispatcher who takes a 911 call from her own husband who is trying to get an ambulance for their dying seven year old son.

The teacher who led this part of the class was a highly educated and well known therapist. The students in the class were soaking up everything she had to say like dry sponges. She was expertly showing us how to see the warning signs of each potential stress related problem that could arise in our lives. Her knowledge was mixed with her new age beliefs. The class listened intently. She showed us all the warning signs of depression, lists of how to spot stress and trauma in our lives. What she couldn’t show any of us was how to cope long term with these problems. She couldn’t show any of us hope. She didn’t even come close. I found that to be the saddest thing of all.

The definition of hope is: To place confidence in; to trust in with confident expectation of good. Her lists always started with self. Our hope has to be in someone greater, and there is only one that I know of who can fulfill that hope, only one that wants to be put first before myself…God.

I was so sad this week for her and so many others in the class. I couldn’t stop thinking that the world really doesn’t have a clue. It gave me a chance to see that there are so many people who are seeking things that will never satisfy. We are all born with a God shaped hole in our hearts. Some fill that hole with their work, some fill that hole with material things, others try and fill that hole with a relationship. Only God fits and fills that hole in our hearts perfectly with His son.

This week I was reminded that the world is still seeking everything but Jesus. People easily influenced by the next fun thing, new thing or cool thing. The next Oprah or her books, like The Secret, while God is still waiting with His arms wide open to hold them close. Jesus is alive and He is real. His word is not a secret but a love letter to all. Written with all of us in mind, especially those who think they are too smart to believe.

Without Jesus in my life, I too would be lighting candles and singing about finding my happy place while taking long deep breaths to ease my stress. All of these things are only temporary fixes for a lifetime and an eternal need. Friends, the verses below came to me numerous times while writing this devotion. I must include them below. These words are His promise of Hope to me and to you (emphasis mine).

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 NKJV

I am so thankful that my hope is in Him.