This morning I took some time to look back at some of the blogs I have posted. Amazing – there are so many of them that have a theme of hope.
How many times have we been right on the edge of accomplishment but fallen short? So many times it seems I have been right on the edge of making it, but like the golf ball above it’s just not quite there.
Those are the times when I have been trying to accomplish things on my own, making my own agenda and asking God to bless it, using my own efforts to make things happen my way.
Almost there but not quite.
Disappointment, heart ache, anger, discouragement, stress – all of these are the results of life moments that are almost there but not quite.
That’s the reason we need and have hope.
“… when God wanted to prove for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. 18 God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19 This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:17-19 CEV
Our hope in God and His promises becomes the anchor for our emotions, our souls. Our hope in God, not in ourselves, keeps us steady, firm and well grounded.
Situations and circumstances of life come crashing in, like waves on the sea. When we have God’s kind of thinking we can see the victory and not become a victim. We can have hope when everyone else says it’s hopeless; we can have peace in the midst of a storm.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:5
We’re not like some who are just a hopin’ and a prayin’ but not expecting things to change. No, our hope has substance. Like Abraham who was 99 years old and had no child, he hoped against hope, knowing that God’s word was true.
“The Scriptures say that Abraham would become the ancestor of many nations. This promise was made to Abraham because he had faith in God, who raises the dead to life and creates new things.
18 God promised Abraham a lot of descendants. And when it all seemed hopeless, Abraham still had faith in God and became the ancestor of many nations. 19 Abraham’s faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children.” Romans 4:17-19 CEV
Hope in God!
King David had experienced many trials but also many victories because he kept his hope in God. When he went out to face Goliath as a young man, King Saul was concerned for his safety but David’s response was “The Lord delivered me from the lion and the bear, so who is this uncircumcised Philistine?”
When a problem comes that seems too big to handle that’s a good thing. It means God will show up to fight it for us. If the things we face in life are only small and insignificant we won’t gain any strength or character.
Now don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not saying that we should run around looking for trouble – not at all; it will come sure enough but when it does come, look up to your source of help – don’t loose hope!
“I look to the hills! Where will I find help? 2 It will come from the Lord, who created the heavens and the earth. 3 The Lord is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble.” Psalm 121: 1-3
Just remember, when it seems things are falling short, not quite enough, we need to put our hope in God!
He is our help, the substance of our hope.