There are times in all of our lives when things just aren't going our way. Our relationships seem to be breaking down. Our finances take a hit with some unexpected expenses. The job or promotion you've been waiting for is given to someone else. We begin to measure our lives according to things. It begins to challenge what we believe because we get caught in the trap of the material world and what we gain. The weight scale gets out of balance and with Christmas right around the corner and it feels like this season we don’t want to celebrate, it just looks pretty bleak.
In moments like these, you can't depend on your circumstances to encourage you, and you sure can't trust your feelings to pull you through because they are constantly changing. There are truths that we can hold onto—the promises of God that come from the Word of God, not some person making them up—truths that are rock solid. We must make the choice to not allow ourselves to go deeper into a tail spin but re-evaluate the issue of hope!
FACT: In the face of it all, you can hope in God.
Hebrews 6:19 gives you this promise "… hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls" (NLT).
All hope comes from God. His favor and His goodness in our lives give us the ability to expect great things from Him, even when the odds against our dreams are huge. Our hope is not in our abilities or resources but rather our hope is in the Lord. Hope in God is our strength and for me hope in Jesus can be trusted. As I read this passage two powerful words stand out strong and trustworthy. “Strong” gives the impression of capable to sustain and support. “Trustworthy” represents dependable and factual—not a myth but proven.
Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”.
The word that stands out is “patience.” What I think of is that I am going through something and I can t give up but patiently press on knowing my hope is in God and I can trust Him. He has the ability to change me or the circumstances! My hope is in him and that is rock solid!
Terri and I know that we are called to plant seeds of hope wherever we are and in whatever we do. We also know that we have the God-given opportunity to plant these seeds in the hearts of people everywhere we go. We must be responsible for our part. The message is not hope in me but our hope is in Jesus!
The message of hope must be shared. This only happens when you and I partner together. We've all got to do our part. Jesus' hope was never meant to be enjoyed alone; it was intended, and will always find its greatest expression, when you give it away. This season let the message of hope be lived out by your actions then by your words.
No one should go without hearing about how much God loves them and the hope that He has for each one of us.
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
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