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What is hope? Where is hope?
What do we have to hope for?
These are heavy questions in today’s
society. With today’s economy, the
uncertainty of current government
leadership, and the everyday burdens of
life there is not much to hope for. I’ve
heard the comment “life stinks and then
you die!” many times. Not very hopeful
We know through God’s word there were
many people without hope. Look at Noah,
faced with a task of building a huge boat
to house all species of animal, and then
finding those believers that would follow
him onto the boat, just because he said
God told him to do so. Then, when no
one went with him, and a huge flood
covered everything and everyone he
knew, how were they to survive? I can
imagine there would be little to be hopeful
for. But God had promised Noah, “Do as I
ask, and you and your family will be
safe” Because Noah was faithful and kept
his hope in God, he and his family were
saved.
What do we have to hope for?
These are heavy questions in today’s
society. With today’s economy, the
uncertainty of current government
leadership, and the everyday burdens of
life there is not much to hope for. I’ve
heard the comment “life stinks and then
you die!” many times. Not very hopeful
We know through God’s word there were
many people without hope. Look at Noah,
faced with a task of building a huge boat
to house all species of animal, and then
finding those believers that would follow
him onto the boat, just because he said
God told him to do so. Then, when no
one went with him, and a huge flood
covered everything and everyone he
knew, how were they to survive? I can
imagine there would be little to be hopeful
for. But God had promised Noah, “Do as I
ask, and you and your family will be
safe” Because Noah was faithful and kept
his hope in God, he and his family were
saved.
There are many other stories in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
What about Samuel's mother Hannah? She prayed for a child for many years.
She believed that God would answer her prayer. She had hope in the promises of
God and His mercy. She had a son and named him Samuel, who became a great
prophet of the Lord. What about the Hebrew children that wouldn't bow down to
the king's idols? They were thrown into a furnace to be burned alive. Would you
have any hope at that point? They kept their hope in God and His mighty power.
God did not allow one hair on their heads to be burned. Hope in God kept them
alive in a fire! Can you believe it?
Let's move to the New Testament. What about Paul and Silas when they were
thrown into prison? That would definitely seem pretty hopeless. But what
happened. Those two didn't for one second doubt that God would take care of
them. They sang their songs, probably the one that goes "my hope is in you
Lord...", and what happened? God delivered them from prison!
Here are biblical examples of plain ordinary people that never lost hope. You
might say, "that was in the Bible. People are supposed to have hope"
Let's look at the world today. Everyday when you walk down the sidewalk or drive
down the street, you see people without hope. You may have lost your job today,
or you are boxing up your belongings because you are being evicted. Where is
the hope? What keeps us going everyday?
There a scripture in the Old Testament in Psalms. It says, "You (God) listen to the
longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their
cries for help"
There it is in black and white. God pays attention to those who suffer. He gives us
hope. He listens to us! He sees us! If we cry He hears us!
You may be saying that "God stuff" hasn't done anything for me. I'm still suffering!
We always must remember this. God does not give us everything WE want, when
WE want, and how WE want. He is God and knows what is best for each of us.
There is a point that we have to believe to have hope. If we don't believe in
anything, we'll fall for everything. Faith is the first step to hope. I have faith to
believe that God has everything under control. Faith is stepping out on nothing
and finding something there. My hope is in the Lord to take care of all my needs.
See? The two go hand in hand.
So what is the process to find hope in the Lord?
First, we must allow God to rule everything we do. It says in the Bible that the only
way to God and heaven is to accept that Jesus, God's son, who died on the cross
for all the wrongs we have done in our life. It doesn't matter how bad the wrong is,
all we have to do is ask God to forgive us for that wrong.
Second, we must believe that God rules everything we do. This will happen when
we pray to God, read His Word, and find a church that will allow us to grow more in
what God wants us to be.
Third, we must walk everyday on the path God has made for us. We may not
always like it, may not always agree, but we must never forget that God is in
control, and He doesn't want to lose us. Jeremiah says "I know the plans I have for
you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you." That's
paraphrased a bit, but you get the point. God created us, He loves us, and it is His
greatest desire that we all can be together in heaven.
Finally, we can never lose the hope we have in what God is doing in our lives.
When you feel hopeless, take stock of what God has done for you. Are you alive?
Has anything happened that God hasn't seen you through it? This would definitely
be the time to "count your blessings".
We love you and our prayer is that you will find hope in the Lord.
