Have Hope!

It is so easy to feel hopeless in the world today. Losing heart can happen to us so quickly and often. The world tells us one story, but Jesus tells us a different one: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

We will be tempted to place our hope in things here on earth. Everything on this earth will eventually fail us, but Christ is a solid rock on which we can stand, on Whom we can place our hope and trust. Billy Graham wrote in his book The Jesus Generation, “My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.”

Are you struggling today to take heart and take hold of the hope that the Lord has won for His children through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus? I would encourage you to start a new rhythm of reading your Bible as often as you read the news. Psalm 119:114 says, “Your word is my source of hope.” Connecting to our source of hope and reminding ourselves of the truth and the victory we have in Jesus is imperative in our walk through this life. Verses that encourage me on this subject are:

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

Ephesians 1:18: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people,”

Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Isaiah 40:31: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

A natural product of taking hold of our hope in Jesus is joy. Psalm 146:5 says, “Happy is he…whose hope is in the Lord his God.” God wants to give you hope today. He wants you to experience the true joy that comes from placing our hope and trust in Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’”
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Prayer:
Father we thank you for the hope we have through your son Jesus. Please help us to set our minds on things above. Help our unbelief, help our doubt, and help us not to lose heart. We thank you for the victory you have won over every power of darkness in this world. We place our trust in You. Amen.