Where is your hope?
Hope: a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen.
My hope often lies in really important places like my next meal, nap or break from my kids. Surely you’re catching the sarcasm here, but in case you’re not - the outcome of my day can be placed in some really shallow bowls of hope.
Beyond silly, daily life events, I’ve placed my hope in some much deeper bowls in my 36 years. Once I finish finals week, life will be good. Once I get a job, life will be good. Once covid ends, life will be good. (It will be, right??!!! ;)
When a hope turns to disappointment, it can wreck me. Alternatively, it can certainly bring joy when things go the desired way, but even the triumph cannot contain my hope for very long because it is fleeting and likely has to do with mere man.
We can be excited, yes for sure! We can have positive expectations, of course! But don’t you go placing anything this side of heaven in the “hope” category.
Why not?
When we place our hope in things or people of this broken world, we will be let down. Because this world is full of heartache and yuck, the general suffering of life ain’t goin’ anywhere. In fact, it is promised. Jesus tells us in John, “...In this world you WILL HAVE TROUBLE, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”
And there’s never been a greater example of bad news - good news all in one sentence! When our hope is correctly placed in Christ alone, we can view blessings and disappointments through His eyes - the eyes of the Victor who has overcome the world.
We can rejoice in blessing, knowing it is from a Good, Unchanging Father, making him the focus of our gratitude and our hope. And in suffering, we are taught in Romans “...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces HOPE...”
Woah, woah, woah - we should REJOICE and find HOPE in our suffering? YES! And AMEN! When we endure disappointment and lean in on Christ as our HOPE who is in turn producing HOPE in us through the struggle, we can look at difficulty in a completely different way.
How can we rightly place our hope?
I challenge myself (and you) to ask yourself Where is my hope right now? when struggle happens and you feel your mood shift for the worse OR when you get what you wanted, but you still feel a little empty.
Even writing this, I feel a little uneasy. I hoped it would turn out better than it appears to be (lol). So I’ll ask myself, where is my hope right now? It’s in my desire for you to understand what I’m trying to say - to connect - and for it to help you take a closer look at struggle - to educate.
Taking it a step further, why do I want to connect and educate? Because I want to prove my worth. I want to prove myself! What measuring stick am I using though? The only opinion I should be seeking is God’s. And I know He’s for me, He knows my heart, He’s made me just the way I am - flaws and all.
Evenso, placing my hope in myself or in any man will never, ever fill me up. The only rightful place for our hope everlasting is in Christ alone. Hope in Him never, ever fails.
As you step into this week, ponder these questions when struggle ensues.
Where is my hope right now?
Why is it there?
Who does God say I am?
Who does God say He is?
Father God, thank you for the person reading this right now. It is not by accident you led them here. You are most high, the orchestrator of all things, you are victorious, and you are our HOPE everlasting. We need this reminder daily God. I misplace my hope all too often, and I’m sure this person does too. We are so weak in our flesh! Thank you for your promise that in our weakness, YOU are strong. Thank you for being a HOPE we can always, always rely upon. Thank you for loving us right where we are! God I ask blessing over this person as they step out into a new week. Gently discipline them toward obedience to you alone showing them where they incorrectly place their hope. Show them who they are in you. Show them who YOU are so they may know you better, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Here is a hearty list of scripture about who God says you are and who He is for reference and further study through the week! Remember to incorporate the FEAST and ACTS method as you dive in!
Who God says you are as a believer in Jesus:
Matthew 5:13 - Salt of the earth
Matthew 5:14 - Light of the world
John 1:12 - His child
John 15:16 - Chosen and appointed
2 Cor 5:18-19 - Reconciled to God
Eph 1:1 - A Saint
1 Thes 5:5 - Child of light, not of darkness
Titus 3:7 - An heir to eternal life
1 Peter 2:9 - Chosen
Romans 8:1 - Free of condemnation
Who God says He is:
John 14:6 - The way, truth, life
Hebrews 13:8 - Unchanging
Matthew 28:20 - Always with you
Romans 8:31 - For you
John 3:17 - Savior of the world
Romans 8:28 - Working all things for your good
Hebrews 7:25 - Savior and interceder
Revelation 21:1-7 - Dwells in us and wipes away every tear
1 Chron 29: 12 - Provider and Strengthener
Revelation 22:13 - Alpha and Omega