I recall several years ago when I was going through a grievous situation and felt pretty hopeless about it, that I had made a list of passages that gave me tremendous hope as I meditated on them. I'm glad for the course assignment that I just finished, and will keep it at-the-ready for easy reference when such a time arises again. I don't think I'm finished with occasionally feeling hopeless and helpless, and probably won't be this side of heaven, but I know where my hope lies and His grace is sufficient.
I share a few of these verses and thoughts with you today, with a prayer that you may find them breathing fresh hope into your own soul...if you are now where I sometimes am.....
I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope (Psalm 130:5). I framed this verse and kept it where I could see it daily. I found that I was waiting and hoping for the wrong thing--for my wish to come true. The less probable that became, the more hopeless I became. As I began to be in the Word more, my affection began to grow for God and His ways. My hope turned to His grace working in my life, to be filled with gratitude for His sufficiency. My situation wasn't changing, but my heart was.
... Jesus Christ, who is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). Without Jesus, we have no hope.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13). I found that being in the Word daily prepared my mind to resist the temptation to dwell on what I did not have and wanted so badly. As I look back on it now, what I wanted would not have satisfied. Instead, God gave me a severe mercy and fixed my hope on His grace.
I will exalt you Lord, for you have lifted me out of the depths. (Psalms 30-34) These are recently fresh psalms to me that we've been studying in our women's Bible study group. They have increased my understanding of the character of God and continue to build my confidence and trust in Him.
.. through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:2-3). Oh, what amazing grace! We exult in hope of the glory of God! Hope doesn't lie in our feelings, but rather, in what God does in and through the tribulations we face. Perseverance in working through life's difficulties build character, increasing hope as we move forward with God's enablement. And so we....
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). Our various trials test our faith and produce many beneficial results, when our focus is changed from we lack to what we have gained.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I have hope in Him."
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:21-26
Therefore, you too, have hope, dear one. If our paths do not cross this side of heaven, may we meet when we get there and rejoice together in the hope we have found in Him. If you aren't sure that you'll be going there, you can learn how to go at ReviveOurHearts.com. I do hope you're going.
Image ~ The Letter, Haynes King 1831-1904
public domain via Wikigallery
