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 42:5

Today was one of those days.  I woke up defeated and just didn’t feel like fighting anymore.  My body was tired, my soul was frustrated and my mind kept waffling between moving forward and giving up.  Additionally I had a medical test that required an hour and a half of driving and two hours for the test…I had a migraine and other tasks I preferred to spend my energy on.  Needless to say, getting ready took effort (not the least of which was the mental hurdle) and when I got to the door of our house I just didn’t want to open it.  In a very brief moment of clarity, I stopped to pray and asked for the grace not to give in on any level.  It was a prayer of hope because at that moment, there seemed to be little evidence that it would be a good day.  God saw my frailty and responded lovingly.  I started the car and the first song on the radio was “Overcomer”, it was followed by “Just be Held”, and the third was “Live Like You’re Loved”.  To me, it was God saying “You were made to overcome, not to quit.  Stop struggling and let Me hold you and sustain you.  I love you as you are…yes you need to strive for godliness, but it’s a process and perfection will not happen in this life.”  Some would assume that it was a mere coincidence since I was, after all, listening to a Christian radio station, but I know better.  First, God has taught me to look for Him and work and to expect a response to my requests…not always agreement, but a response.  Second, one of my favorite verses Proverbs 16:33 tells us “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”  In other words, there are no coincidences.    After moving past the initial hurdle, God started reminding me of His promises and I eased into my day knowing that God was with me.  The struggle was still there, but I was not alone and I was sustained…not only then, but throughout the day.  So what about hope?  Why do we hope?

We hope because we need to.  As Proverbs 13:12 tells us, without hope the heart is sick and in a state of despair.  Life is difficult and full of struggles and trials.  Without hope, they overwhelm us.  When we forget to hope, we often err as we stumble around trying to manage on our own which has a tendency to lead to more problems.  Sadly, many without hope take their lives.  Conversely, when we are full of hope, we open ourselves to God’s sustaining grace and are able to work through the struggle.  The difficulty level doesn’t change, but our outlook does.  The basis of that hope has three parts:  the One in whom we hope, the promises He has given and our past experience.

When we choose to hope in God, we are placing in trust in the One who has no beginning or end and will, therefore, always be with us.  One who is: holy, sovereign, all powerful, all wise, all knowing, always present, unchanging, compassionate, loving, merciful, faithful, and forgiving.  In the trinity we have: God the Father-Lord of all that is and our Heavenly Father who loves us immensely; Christ-our redeemer and sustainer of all things; and the Holy Spirit-our comforter and intercessor.   Psalm 130:7 reminds us “hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption.”  Why would we choose to hope in any other?  Nothing in this world can provide for us as lovingly, consistently and thoroughly as Almighty God.

As we hope in God, we believe that He will do as promised.  In case you’re feeling weak and need a reminder, here are a few of His assurances:

• Forgiveness and eternal life (1 John 1:9, Romans 6:23)
• The Holy Spirit to teach, guide, convict and intercede for us. (Luke 11:13)
• That He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
• That all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)
• Provision for all we need (Psalm 34:9-10, Matthew 6:31-34, Philippians 4:19)
• Help to endure temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)
• Deliverance (Psalm 34:4)
• Wisdom (James 1:5)
• Healing (Jeremiah 30:17)
• Freedom from fear (1 John 4:18, John 14:27)
• Power and strength (Isaiah 40:29-31)
• Peace (Isaiah 26:3)

This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will remind you that God is for you, helps you, provides for you and sustains you.  Some are related to our bodies, others are for our souls while still others apply to both.  In any event, God has our best interest at heart and will care for, lead and direct us when we place our hope in Him.

Hope is a skill to be developed as described in Romans 5:2-7.  As we experience trials, we hope and are delivered.  It’s like walking.  When learning, we fell down a few times but with every step we gained strength and confidence until we could not only walk, but we could run.  It’s that way with hope.  We may fail a few times but we keep trying and as we see God’s hand working for our good in spite of trying circumstances, our confidence in Him grows and putting our hope in Him becomes second nature.  Sometimes He relieves the circumstances while other times He changes our perspective, either way, we are helped and benefited.  When we choose not to hope, our ability to hope wanes and we must learn again.  However, God is always faithful, is with us and is more than willing to help us overcome our doubts and fears.

Finally hope is our pathway to peace.  When we confidently hope in God and remember how He has cared for us in the past, we can be at peace.  Peace in knowing that not one detail of our circumstances escapes His notice.  Peace in knowing that He truly understands our makeup and our fears.  Peace in knowing that His grace is sufficient.  Peace in knowing that as we hope in God, His spirit is being “poured out in us”.  Peace in knowing that ultimately, all that we experience as believers is for His glory and our good.  Peace in knowing that we will have problems in this world, but that Christ has overcome this world (John 16:33).  Peace in knowing that the course we are on leads to an eternity with Him.

Whatever you face today, consider the following passages and be encouraged.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 34:24

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness.  Psalm 33:18

If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.  When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.  Psalm 94:18-19

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.  Romans 15:13

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.  John 14:27

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:8

…and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Romans 5:5