Hope

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It is great to have hope but there are times when our hope gets shaken. Our world today is facing dark and troubling times. People grow weary, lose hope and expectations for things to get better. There are situations in life that come and knock the breath out of us.

We must hold on tight to what we know of the character and truth of God.

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you” — this is God’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

This assures us that God will listen, but it does not say that He will always do what we want.

There are many accounts in the Bible of people who lost hope. Job and David both went through dark, valley experiences and testified that the Lord met them in their night season.

Job 19:26-27   Job in his dark time still professed that with his eyes he would see God. Like Job, we need to really seek God, focus on Him, and His ways.
“When I see Him – I will be like Him!”

David encouraged himself in the Lord in his despair.

Psa.42:5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

We do not want to be those who lose hope but those who encourage ourselves in God in tough times. Encourage one another also and come alongside those who are getting weary.

God restored David’s hope and God wants to do the same for us. God wants to speak wholeness to our life. He has a healing word for each of our lives. When the offer of wholeness comes, we must choose to trust the Lord and embrace the process.

Galatian 6:6 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  We are not alone in this.

Many people believe that the power of God in a person’s life should keep her from all trials and conflicts. Not true. The Bible is full of accounts of people who trusted God but endured hardships.

God is at work behind the scenes in each of our lives. Eventually, we will see and understand His work and wisdom in our lives. (If not here on earth, then in heaven – we will understand more.)

One of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom – Shalom is more than peace. It is a word of wholeness, tranquility, and peace in an overall sense. The Lord our Wholeness! We can pray and ask God to reveal Himself as Peace and Wholeness in our situation and life.

Take away- We must hope – hold onto what we know of God’s character and Word. We must trust Him that He is working for our good and embrace the process as best we can.

What is hope and where does it come from?

What can we do to keep hope when things are not going well?

Does God leave us alone in our times of distress?

Blessing:    Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”