Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
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.”
What comes to your mind when you think of the word “hope?” What are you hoping will happen this week? How will you respond if this doesn’t come to pass? No one is exempt from struggles and discouragements. This is life. Waiting for essential answers in circumstances such as seeking medical advice, facing financial need, waiting for the outcome of an exam, or dealing with a pressing need at work, in our family, or even with political outcomes, all involves having hope. I think of Jonah, who ran from God because he had no hope in the assignment that God had given him to do in ministering to the wicked and ungodly people in the city of Nineveh, that was the rising power of the day. So, he ended up having a lot of time to think while being swallowed by a great fish. It gave him time to reflect on God’s mercy, repentance, and compassion for all people, rather than wanting to die (Jonah 4:3). Similarly, it is the same for us when we are “in the wait” and patiently enduring the need for encouragement. Yet, if we remember what God has done for us in the past, we can be reassured and have greater confidence in trusting Him to do it again. That is our hope for what we cannot see as we wait patiently.
Paul teaches in Romans 15:4 that one can find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures. Have you found a verse or portion of Scripture that you go to see the “hope” that you need?
“Perfect endurance demands just that – perfection – and since none of us is there yet, we must look outside ourselves for hope. Your hope of enduring is not to be found in your character or strength, but in your Lord’s.” David Paul Tripp. It takes perseverance to rest on the promises of God, as found in His Word. It is by God’s grace of endurance granted to all in calling you what He calls you to be between right now and when you go to be with Him.
We have faced financial challenges, physical hardships, and employment fluctuations. During one of those heartbreaking instances, when I was in despair and felt loneliness, I found hope through God’s grace in my weakness, in Psalm 119:92, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” So my prayer then became, “Teach me Your Word during this season of my life like I have never known it before and make this verse my testimony when I emerge from this place.” That is the verse that God taught me to have hope in His Word to meet my needs, gave me the strength I needed, and that trials provide an opportunity to draw upon divine power because He is my shield. God met me in the midst of a specific situation and sustained me through it because of that biblical truth.
God’s Word makes us wise. But we have to apply the knowledge to transform our life in God’s way and perspective. Intelligent people are not necessarily wise. True wisdom comes from applying biblical truths found in God’s Word. For example, Ps. 119:98 states, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.” You may want to write that verse down (NLT version) for easy reference. The Bible gives instruction, counsel, and guidance for every need we are waiting for answers to give us hope in what we do not know, see, or have. So then, “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.” Romans 15:13.
Listen to Brandan Lake – The Great I Am Can (Lyric Video).