ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE LOSING HOPE

It seems a lot of people in this season have lost or are losing hope, so I want to share a few thoughts about hope.

First, what is hope? According to the dictionary, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It can also stem from a feeling of trust.

If you are losing hope, then ask yourself: What am I putting my trust in?

As Christians, our hope should be in the Lord, not government, church leaders, or even family and friends. There are quite a few verses in the Bible about hope. Just do a word search and you will find that there are 22 occurrences just in the book of Psalms. Here are a few of them from the NASB.

Psalm 42:5

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.

Psalm 38:15

For I hope in You, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalm 130:7

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.

Psalm 146:5

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

Here are a few from Proverbs.

Proverbs 10:28

The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

Proverbs 24:14

Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.

Psalms 20:7 says, “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”

According to the Strong’s Concordance, the phrase “boast in chariots” means trust in, praise or are strong through chariots while “boast in the name of the Lord, our God” conveys the idea that we trust or hope in the Lord, our God.

So, I ask again: What are you placing your hope in? The government? Your own strength? Your bank account? Other people? If your answer is yes and you are one of those losing hope, then I can understand why. Let me exhort you to put your hope and trust in the one who never fails. The one who is always faithful even when it is not how we may want or expect. The one who paid the price for you to live free from the bondage of sin. The one who gives you the blessed hope of the resurrection.

Titus 2:11-14

New American Standard Bible 1995

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

In the New Testament, hope is used 73 times. Here are just a couple more I would like to end with.

1 John 3:3

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom dear ones as your put your hope and trust in Yeshua.