Hope – one small word that can change your life.

Times are hard, and life can be beyond difficult. Sometimes it can leave us feeling overwhelmed, perhaps even feeling hopeless. But no matter what circumstances you woke up to this morning, there is a promise of hope.

No matter what circumstances you woke up to this morning, there is a promise of hope. Share on X

In the Old Testament, we are shown that hope is all about putting our confidence in God because of Who He is. We are reminded of His character and the fact that He always keeps His promises. In the New Testament, we are taught of hope and how it runs hand in hand with courage and trust. As we continue to turn the pages of God’s Word, we find our Living Hope revealed to us through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 Hope Comes from God

 

The Bible assures us that our hope comes from God. When hope seems hard to find, remember these things.

Hope comes from the Lord. If you know Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. It’s God’s Holy Spirit that will generate faith and hope inside of you. This means it’s not something you have to come up with on your own. No amount of determination and striving can create what only God can give. Receive the hope that He has to give. It’s there for you, friend.

Remember that hope is a certainty and a promise to us. We have a God who does abundantly more than we can imagine. He has places prepared for us in the future that we cannot begin to comprehend. His character shows us that He never fails. His promises always come to pass. He is faithful and true. Because of this, we can have hope for the future in spite of our difficult circumstances.

Rely on God’s Word. Read the passage in the image above from Psalms. These are promises for us. Our situations may not change, but we have a God who wants us to pour out our heart to Him. He wants us to trust Him. He is our refuge, our stronghold, our salvation.

When Hope Seems Far Away

When hope seems far away, hold on to these verses.

My soul wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. (Psalm 62:5 NASB)

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5 NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3 NASB)

This hope we have as and anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast, and one which enters within the veil. (Hebrews 6:19 NASB)

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Romans 8:25 NASB)

But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise Thee yet more and more. (Psalm 71:14 NASB)

… rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer. (Romans 12:12 NASB)

We will study these verses in more detail next week in a free resource I have created for you. It’s called the Hope Kit! Come back next week to pick it up!

When hope seems far away, hold on to these seven verses! Share on X

 

 

 

Focus Verses
Each verse above is linked to its appropriate page at www.biblehub.com where you can find free help for a deeper study. Just click on the verse reference to go there!

Let’s Talk
What verses bring you hope in the midst of your hardships? Please share in the comments below. Your verses will be there to encourage those behind you!

If you Struggle with Perfectionism
Hope and perfectionism are complete opposites. Hope is the expectation of something sure or certain. It is a positive state of mind. Perfectionism, on the other hand, is a refusal – the refusal of anything that’s not perfect. The expectations of perfectionism are unrealistic and full of self-sufficiency. The expectations that come from Biblical hope, however, are full of grace and help us depend on God. As we let go of perfectionism, we’ll find ourselves in a better place where we can find the rest and peace we need in the arms of Jesus. Do you find it difficult to have hope? Perhaps ask yourself these questions:

Am I being unrealistic in my expectations?
Am I depending on myself and not God?
Am I thinking from a negative perspective?
Am I holding on to the promises of this world instead of the promises of God?

Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to understand that our Hope comes from you. Help us to rely on You and praise you more and more, even in the midst of our difficulties. Help us to persevere and be devoted to prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Next Week
Come back the week of Monday, February 12th and pick up your free Hope Kit! This kit will help you study the seven verses from this article.   You will find hope in them and keep it as an anchor for your soul. You will find insights from the original languages for key words in each verse so that you will know the depth of what you are praying when you repeat and pray Scriptures back to God. You will use these verses and insights to create your own authentic and powerful prayers. You can repeat these verses and prayers anytime you feel the extra need for hope. It’s an action plan that is simple to work through and will always be useful in the future! You’ll find it in the Prayer Library next Monday! It’s free!

The article 7 Verses for When You Need Hope first appeared at www.journeytoimperfect.com.

*This post may be linked in the following places. Click through to find more hope and encouragement for your new year!  Moments of Hope / Tea And Word Tuesdays / Tell His Story / Cheerleaders of Faith /  Coffee for Your Heart / Sitting Among Friends / Live Free Thursday / Chasing Community / Salt and Light / Heart Encouragement Thursday / Counting My Blessings / Grace and Truth

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.