The Fruit of Mentoring

Hope is a beautiful thing. A believer's hope is confidence in God’s promises and the assurance of His faithfulness. When we say our hope is in what God can and will do, it is not like throwing a coin in a well and making a wish. Wishing is a person’s desire for something to come true. Hope is confident expectation in God’s faithfulness. 

When I was younger, I had a head full of hopes. I hoped I could get out of my small town. I hoped I would see the world. I hoped I would marry my prince charming. As the years went by and my faith in God grew, my hopes became prayers. I prayed for God to make me a better wife, mom, and friend. I prayed for wisdom, discernment, and strength. I prayed for doors to open and my gifts to be used for His glory. The difference between my youthful hopes and my quiet prayers had to do with the people God placed around me, mentors who invested in me. 

In my mid-twenties to my early thirties, there were mentors in my life that helped shape me into the woman I am today. They poured their time and love into our relationship and encouraged me to learn God’s word. They corrected me when I made mistakes and loved me through hardships and grief. They took the time to invest in me; their faith grew my faith; their hope influenced my hope. 

There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for the people He put in my life, for those who have mentored me. I, in turn, look for opportunities to invest in the next generation, to call out gifts I see in others and encourage and equip them to use those gifts for God’s glory. My experiences, wisdom, and discernment should not end with me but be shared with the next generation. My prayer is that the church takes time to invest in one another. My hope is that I will see the Lord move through the younger generation in big ways. 

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God, you are my beacon of hope! I have seen all the wonderful things You have done, and I look forward to the great things You will do. Help me to see others through your eyes. Give me opportunities to invest in those around me and spur others on to do good works. Let me not waver in my faith for my hope is anchored in You. In Jesus name, Amen.