The world waits for a miracle The heart longs for a little bit of hope Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel A child prays for peace on Earth And she’s calling out from a sea of hurt Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel
The lyrics above are from the song, “Light of The World,” by Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan, and Paul Mabury. May you be encouraged as you listen, even if you have heard the song before. May we find comfort in the truth that because of Jesus, the Light of the World, we are never without hope. May we set our hope in God (Psalm 78:7, NKJV).
It is hard to imagine a future when you lack hope.
It is hard to have hope when everything you can experience through your senses give you no reason to believe that the current circumstances will change.
It is hard to reach for, look forward to a future that, to your knowledge, will be more of the same.
The same pain.
The same struggle.
The same loneliness.
The same barren efforts.
But if you are His
you may feel hopeless but you are never without hope.
For He is the source of hope.
And He has made this declaration,
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Did you hear that? He has plans to give you a future and a hope.
Not just a future but one that is hope filled.
And He is able to do just what He says.
So I join with the apostle Paul in praying, “Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy spirit.”*
You have a future, a glorious future.
*Romans 15:13
NB: This post was originally published on this blog as “Five Minute Friday: Future” on June 2, 2107.
Hope – someone or something on which hopes are centered.
“My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only in Him.” (Psalm 62:5, VOICE). Hope – someone or something on which hopes are centered.
“My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only in Him.” “I hope only in Him.” “Hope only in Him.”
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure” (Romans 8:25, AMP). “My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only Him.”
“…we also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness” (Romans 5:3-4, VOICE). “Hope and anticipate God’s goodness.”
“My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only in Him.” “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen“ (Hebrews 11:1, TPT).
“My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only in Him.” Hope only in Him.
This post was written for Day 7 of the Advent 2017 series and for Five Minute Friday. The definition for “Hope” is from merriam-webster.com.
“Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:5). David spoke these words to himself during a period when he was being attacked and there were individuals conspiring to dishonor him. Perhaps, like David, you are in a difficult season even as everyone around you is joyful, anticipating the Christmas season. May you find rest in God and remember that you have every reason to hope because your hope comes from Him. Even if you can only whisper this truth through your tears, know that you are speaking truth to yourself. Your hope comes from Him and He will never fail you.
Perhaps you entered the Advent season stripped of everything you value(d). Perhaps your losses include a dearly loved person. I will not insult you with platitudes but I will pray that if you find your hope slipping away, you will give it to God for safekeeping.
You may be in a hard season of your life. Perhaps life has felt hard for so long, you fear that to hope for anything better is to set yourself up for acute disappointment. Hear the words of the One who cannot lie and who loves you with an everlasting love, and has never left you, “‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” (Jeremiah 29:11, AMP). May He give you the strength and grace to believe Him, and to look to the future with hope.
