Hope
Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary defines the word hope as:
- To cherish a desire with anticipation.
- To desire with expectation of obtainment.
- To expect with confidence.
New Century Version dictionary states that hope is looking forward to something
you really expect to happen.
Are you missing any of these elements of hope? Are you experiencing life with
great desire and with great anticipation of the future? Are you confidently
expecting great things in the future? If you can use a little more hope in life,
maybe I can share something that may inspire hope to your present situations
in life.
The Pilot's Smile
In Robert Louis Stevenson's story of a storm, he describes a ship caught off
a rocky coast, threatening death to all on board. When terror among the passengers
was at its worst, one man more daring than the rest, making the perilous passage
to the pilot-house, saw the pilot lashed to his post with his hands on the wheel,
turning the ship little by little into the open sea. When the pilot beheld the
ghastly white, terror-stricken face of the man, he smiled, and the man rushed
to the deck below shouting, "I have seen the face of the pilot and he smiled.
All is well." The sight of that smiling face averted panic and converted
despair into hope.—Bible Illustrations
Psalms 69:13
What problems David faced! He was scoffed at, mocked, insulted, humiliated,
and made the object of city-wide gossip. But still he prayed. When we are completely
beaten down, we are tempted to turn from God, give up, and quit trusting him.
When your situation seems hopeless, determine that no matter how bad things
become you will continue to pray. God will hear your prayer, and he will rescue
you. When others reject us, we need God most. Don't turn from your most faithful
friend. —Life Application Bible Notes
Genesis 48:11
When Joseph became a slave, Jacob thought he was dead and wept in despair (Gen
37:30). But eventually God's plan allowed Jacob to regain not only his son,
but his grandchildren as well. Circumstances are never so bad that they are
beyond God's help. Jacob regained his son. Job got a new family (Job 42:10-17).
Mary regained her brother Lazarus (John 11:1-44). We need never despair because
we belong to a loving God. We never know what good he will bring out of a seemingly
hopeless situation. —Life Application Bible Notes
Our hope must be in God
- Psalms 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted
within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet see Him, The help of my countenance
and my God. NKJ
- Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is
from Him. NKJ· Psalms 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are
my trust from my youth. NKJ
- Other related scriptures: Psalms 39:7, Lamentations 3:24-26, 1 Thessalonians
1:2-4 and 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17
Hope in God produces gladness
- Psalms 146:5,6 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose
hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that
is in them; Who keeps truth forever, NKJ
- Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation
of the wicked will perish. NKJ
- Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is
the Lord. NKJ
True hope comes from having a personal relationship with God. If you have not
experienced this wonderful relationship, you can have it today! Here are five
points to consider in order to have this wonderful personal relationship with
God:
- God loves you very much and He desires to have fellowship with you. John
3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Why are many
people not experiencing this fulfillment in life?
- Romans 3:23 says that, “For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God….” Sin is missing the mark or not becoming everything
that God wants us to be. It’s something on the inside of us that causes
us to produce actions that we’re not proud of and robs us of peace with
God, ourselves and with others. Romans 6:23 tells that, “For the wages
of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The wages that sin produces is death which is separation from God, now and
forever! Our sin is what separates us from God. Is there a solution to this
separation from God?
- Romans 5:8 says that, “But God demonstrates His love towards us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The sin debt must
be paid! It was impossible for us to perform enough deeds to pay for this
debt so Jesus Christ came and paid it for us. God did his part, what is our
part?
- Our part is to believe, receive and confess what Jesus Christ did for us
on the cross. Romans 10:9, 10 say, “That if you confess with your mouth
the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Salvation is
being set free from the power and effects of sin.
- If you have never invited Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior, I invite
you to do so now. Simply pray the following prayer out loud to God and He
will hear and answer your prayer: Father, I come to you just as I am. I confess
that I have sinned against you. I ask you to forgive me and wash me clean
with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, your Son. I believe that He took
my sin upon Himself and died on the cross for me. I believe that Jesus was
raised from the dead. Jesus, I ask you to come and live inside of me forever.
Thank you Father for giving me the gift of eternal life. I am so grateful
for your love and mercy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Jesus Christ has
just entered your life to live forever. Do not rely upon your feelings but
trust in the BIble which is the Word of God.
Next Steps
- Hebrews 10:25 says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more
as you see the Day approaching.” Find a church that will instruct you
from the Bible.
- Mark 16:16 says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but
he who does not believe will be condemned.” Be baptized (submerged)
in water.
- I Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word
that you may grow thereby…” The Bible is the word of God speaking
to you and we grow spiritually by reading the Bible everyday. Start with reading
the gospel of John in the New Testament.
- Talk to your Heavenly Father about anything that concerns you. Your Heavenly
Father loves you and He desires to hear from you everyday! Matthew 6: 9-13
says, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed
be Your name. (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is
in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever. Amen.” NKJ
