Hope-Full

We all face the day. We all live life to meet our obligations, and pursue our goals; big or small, that feed our motivation to get things done, so that each step we take is one step closer to the final destination or finish line that we have been hoping for.

Hope.

We all face each day with some degree of hope.

Hope of a better day than yesterday. Hope that what you have been praying for will reach your ideal expectations.

Hope.

For some, this word of hope we speak of is overused, overrated, and over the top; especially in times where an impending doom is clearly depicted from our human eyes.

So what is hope? How do we remain hopeful?

Hope is to spiritual motivation, like gas is to a car; it’s how we get to our final destination. Without it, we really can’t look at a situation with a positive lens, and we can’t reach that final goal or purpose without it.

In its original Greek context, the word hope has various usages such as: expectation, trust, and confidence.

Hope sounds so cute and fluffy doesn’t it? We often see this word written in calligraphy, depicting a beautiful sensation of both art and faith. The true reality is that when the rubber hits the road, hope is grueling, sometimes painful, and downright difficult.

But, we can be assured we can rely on the One that gives hope to the hopeless.

To hope means to be expectant of things that seem impossible, and to trust in the One that makes these things possible.

Friends, the time is NOW to fully rely and remain in Christ. Sometimes we can convince yourself that we already do. We read countless devotionals, watch Christian inspiration videos online but when adverse situations come our way, are we shaken? Are we moved? Do we become irritable, bitter, and angry at God despite all these efforts?

Scripture tells us,

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you,” Isaiah 43:1-2.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes: but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit,” Jeremiah 17:7-8.

To be an ambassador of hope we must look at its essential pre-existing partner called “faith.” Hope is the final product of faith, so if we do not have faith, we cannot establish hope. Hebrews 11:1 says,

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

So the question is, who or what are you placing your faith in?

School? Personal success? Work? Your own personal beliefs and ideals?

If we omit the work that will be done with God for our lives, then we are bound to become unsuccessful at maintaining joy, and resilient against His Word and direction for us.

To maintain and nurture hope is not an easy task, as it takes a sense of trust and confidence that is contrary to what is happening around us or towards us. To be hopeful is to be secure in the One that works all things together for our good. To be hopeful is to really believe God’s Word. This goes beyond our own interpretations, feelings, or ability to convince ourselves that we have a better approach or stance on a particular matter. To hope means having a positive perspective and outlook. Perspective is truly a wonderful and precious gift that needs to be nurtured everyday so we can live out this amazing hope we have in Christ.

And so, we leave you with this Word,

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me,” Micah7:7.