There are a lot of things we can live without. In this current pandemic, perhaps that’s being emphasized more than usual! I know that even now I’m still blessed to have every necessity as well as so many of the things I just want to have.
And while the store shelves may be empty of certain items and we can’t run all over town like we’re used to doing, most of us have what we need to keep going physically. Yet in a world where things are admittedly off-kilter, there’s an essential quality we need as we look to the future.
I can’t imagine living without hope.
As Christians, we have hope for eternity, and that’s absolutely necessary. When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we secured our home in heaven, where we’ll live with Him forever. But we still need hope for today, and tomorrow, and for any time life is hard.
Have you recently asked the same question that Job did? “And where is now my hope?” [17:15]
I went looking for some Bible verses that mentioned hope to discover how we might find it if we’ve lost ours. Here are six ideas.
1. We find hope as we focus on God’s nearness.
“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” ~Psalm 16:8-9
Our focus is so important. Are we focused on the circumstances and our current situation – and yes, it could be dire – or are we focused on God? He is always near, always present.
Doesn’t it sound delightful to “rest in hope?” That’s where we can be as concentrate our attention on the truth that God is always with us.
2. We find hope as we trust in God.
“For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” ~Psalm 33:21-22
Maybe we’ve talked about the importance of trusting God before??? 🙂 We trust His grace when we don’t understand what’s going on. As our trust grows, He grants us peace.
God’s mercy comes to us as we learn to put our hope in Him.
3. We find hope as we wait on God.
“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” ~Lamentations 3:25-26
We want any difficult situation to be over with right this minute. But the Lord has a purpose in allowing it to continue.
I love that it says “quietly wait.” I don’t think my waiting is always quiet. Perhaps it’s more like weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth! But the verse says that it’s good for us to both hope and wait for the Lord’s salvation.
4. We find hope as we encourage ourselves in God.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” ~Psalm 42:11
Do you talk to yourself? Here the Psalmist tells himself to find hope in God. He questions his discouraged soul and looks forward with confidence to the future when he knows he will praise God.
5. We find hope as we recall God’s faithfulness.
“For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” ~Psalm 71:5-6
How often has God been faithful over the course of our lives? The short answer is that He has always been faithful. It may be a good exercise to actually write down some of the times you recall God’s faithfulness to meet a need, answer a prayer, or provide deliverance.
6. We find hope in the promises of God’s Word.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” ~Psalm 130:5
You’re not going to find hope on the news or almost any media outlet! But God’s Word is full of it. That’s where we need to spend our time.
As we gird ourselves with hope for today, here’s a verse we can pray for ourselves and for each other.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” ~Romans 15:13
Related posts:
- 3 Reasons You Can Have Hope Today
- An Uncertain Future Reveals Our Need for a Trustworthy God
- He’s the Lord of Our Ruined and Empty Places
Yes, hope is such an important thing! Thanks for reminding us where we can find it!
Hope your week goes well!!
I don’t think my waiting is always quiet, either! 😀