Hope: A New Day

Sometimes the circumstances of our lives can be discouraging and oppressing! The situations we find ourselves in can threaten to overwhelm us, cast us down, and keep us there. Is this your current experience? Have you been there? For some, it can become pretty bleak and dark. Life becomes painful and bitter. I’m sure you will agree this is not a good place to be. Not for anyone!

Landing in such difficulty can be the result of our own sin, but it can be due to the sin of others too. Oppression can be cruel and severe. Oppression can be painful to the mind, and effect our physical health when we do not respond correctly. How do you respond? Are you able to?

To prevent this, we must fight. And fight hard! We must persevere. You must!

The one thing that we, as Christians, must focus on to not down-spiral into a deep and dark pit is hope!

Hope is essential to overcoming the rigors and hardship of life. It will cause us to respond differently to not only the unjust severities of life but to the unreasonable and awkward people who have caused injury to us, and to our loved ones. Hope will give you patience when you know you live for a greater purpose – one that is not your own.

You may wonder what it is about hope that will cause you to respond differently to the afflictions you know. Hope is a desire for change, believing it to be possible, and expecting it with confidence. Hope requires rational thought about the thing or purpose we are hoping in. What is it for you? What and in Whom do you place your hope, and trust?

You cannot trust a hope that has no historical proven faithfulness. It would prove pointless. Placing hope in something or someone that is not proven will only allow for greater, fateful disillusionment ending in a bitter result.

Hope affords us opportunities to refocus our thoughts. To think differently about our realities. Our circumstances may not change, but we have Hope! When we have placed our trust and faith in the Lord – His promises become our guarantee – a sure and proven thing. We know change will come. Change in the way we think and respond to the difficulties and struggles we know. When we are equipped with knowledge of who the Lord is – we place our trust, faith and hope in Him!

• Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

• LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble (Isaiah 33:2)

• My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:20-23).

#hope #faithful