Dear friends, in this world people are all the time looking for few things which are rarely available in its genuineness like True Love, Hope, Encouragement, guidance etc.
This article deals with ‘Hope’ for the people who are in despair and who are seeking the answers and are hopeless.
1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love…”
The above verse says the best three enduring principles, out of which ‘hope’ is too mentioned.
As per Strong’s Concordance the word ‘hope’ means
Original Word: ἐλπίς, ίδος, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: elpis
Phonetic Spelling: (el-pece’)
Short Definition: hope, expectation
Definition: hope, expectation, trust, confidence.
Yes ‘hope’ means expectation from others. People tend to have expectations from their parents, children, brothers and sisters, spouse, loved ones, friends etc. We try to trust man and more often people fail. Let us see the attitude of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Bible says in John 2:23-25
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. (NKJV)
Many believed in JESUS but HE never trusted anyone. HE knew what was in man. HE was not astonished when the disciples left HIM and ran away. But in-spite of knowing everything JESUS decided to die for us on the Cross in the hope that in the future because of that seed sown in the form of HIS life (when HE died) HE will reap us in the form of HIS children as a Harvest.My friends hope is always accompanied by sowing of seed. If a farmer just sits in front of his field and waits for the harvest then it won’t do good to him and he won’t reap any harvest. But his seed is his expectation, his hope for the future harvest. He trusts in God that there is going to be rain and sun shine and his harvest will come in due season. Jeremiah 17: 7 says
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.”
You might have gone to various people for source or help and if you have had no solution to your problems, my friend Taste and see how good God is? It doesn’t mean that pains, problems and trials won’t come but amidst adverse situation if our eyes are fixed on JESUS, HE will give us the hope that we need.
Let us see some of the things the Word of God teaches us regarding the hope we have in GOD.
1) Jeremiah 29:11 says
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
First of all my friends we must know that the plans of God for us are for good and not for harm or evil. God is Love. You might have failed in your life till now or in the past but today when you read the above verse know that God loves You and has a hope for You. The hope of future, the hope for tomorrow. His plans are perfect because HE is a perfect God. Kindly cheer up.
2) Psalm 42:11 says
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
If your soul is in sorrow or grief or even depressed, let me encourage You that if You Hope in God, you will be refreshed. Your mind will be transformed, because the word of God says that God is not a man that HE should lie…so if your situation is in turmoil, just praise God for your hope shall not be cut off. HE is your Salvation and your God.
3) Romans 15:13 says
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
The above verse clearly states that HE is a God of Hope. Hope for all joy and peace that you long for. Today most of the people miss that joy and peace but Lord JESUS CHRIST is the source of Peace for HE is known as ‘Prince of Peace’. The above verse also teaches that it is the HOLY SPIRIT who empowers us with that hope and not only that but hope in abundance. It is not a glimmer of hope but abounding hope by the Holy Spirit. HE will turn your sorrows into joy. Your restlessness into HIS divine Peace.
4) Hebrews 11:1 says
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith does not exist without hope. In faith we are assured ( have substance) of things hoped for. Faith is directly linked to our hope for what we are expecting God to do. In fact we are certain of it because we have substance i.e testimony what God has already done for us on the Cross. So in order to grow in Faith we must have the Revelation of hope
5) Psalm 119:114 says
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
My friends when we read the word of the living God it brings us hope. We may be facing any kind of situation but the word of God brings light into our lives and therefore our hope is re-ignited and resurrected.
6) Hebrews 10:23 says
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
The above verse holds the key for our hope. There is a confession of our hope that we have to maintain throughout without wavering. The words that flow out of our mouth work as seeds for the future. If we speak negative then will reap negative harvest and that too many folds. Our confession must be in accordance with the word of God without a shadow of the doubt. Only then we will reap a must harvest as per the word and will of God (James 1:5). If you have hope then don’t even think of changing your confession according to adverse circumstances.
7) Romans 8:25 says
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
My friends the fruit of patience is another key for hope to be fulfilled. If a farmer sows a seed then he will hope with patience to reap the harvest. If a player plays in a game then he is patient enough to play the full game in order to record a win. A mother in hope of a new born baby waits patiently for more than 9 months. Patience is the fruit of The Holy Spirit.
8) Romans 5:3-4 says
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
Yes when sufferings abound, the people of God must rejoice because it is birthing something big of far more greater value. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is being cultivated i.e endurance and patience, which in turn produces character. We begin to be transformed into the image of the most High God. This nature results in hope from and in God alone. We then know that it is only HIS grace and HIS presence preserve us.
9) 1 Peter 1:3 says
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
We are born again with a living hope in a living God. This hope came when Lord JESUS rose again from the dead on the third day. The fear of death was conquered and the hope of resurrection was given to the people of God that one day as Lord JESUS rose again from the grave so will HE give us grace to be resurrected at HIS coming (Rapture). One day this sinful body will be transformed into a glorious one- this is a blessed hope in CHRIST for us who are born again.
10) Lamentation 3:24 says
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
Lord made us in HIS own image and likeness. HE implanted and imparted a portion of HIMSELF in us. This is the reason that many people seek HIM s the conviction of the Holy Spirit brings us to that point to seek or maker. When we give or hearts to JESUS or when we invite HIM in our hearts/lives, then HE THE LORD becomes our portion and as the Spirit man grows and matures we automatically are drawn towards the Lord because HE alone is our hope. Our innermost being knows it and therefore HE becomes our full trust.Hallelujah.
My friends there are so many other features and reasons for hope in GOD but the above are the few ones mentioned to encourage the walk of all with God.
