What is Hope?
Romans 15:13 (NLT) I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is hope? As Christians, this might be a familiar term but can often be mistaken for wishful thinking. In Romans, Paul reminds us that hope is much more concrete than wishful thinking. The word translated hope here means "A solid confidence based on absolute certainty." And we are called to overflow with hope from the Holy Spirit. It seems easier said than done, but consider what Paul says first: "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him." God is the source of our hope. God filling us with joy and peace is what leads us to hope, and we receive it through our confident trust in God.
Though our circumstances might feel hopeless, God can and will fill us with His joy and peace if we will put our complete trust in Him. Then, we can be sure that hope will follow, even during the most trying circumstances.
Hebrews 6:19 (NLT) says: This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls . . . Hope is the anchor of our souls during the worst of storms. Hope comes from putting our confident trust in God and holding onto His promises because we know that God works in all things for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28 NIV). If you're feeling hopeless, remember, with a confident trust, that God has not abandoned you. He loves you. He did not randomly place you on this earth and then leave you alone. God is at work in all things, for your ultimate good. He has promised it, and he will make good on that promise. You can confidently trust Him.
Allow God to remind you of what a truly loving and confidently trustworthy God He is. And watch for him to be at work in your life accordingly. Ask for the supernatural joy and peace that God will fill you with to comfort and guide you as you navigate this season of life. Keep an open heart towards Him and how He reveals Himself and His power to you in your time of need.
Consider slowly re-reading this scripture and devotion, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally and specifically. Highlight, circle, underline, and note the words that stand out to you.
Questions: How has God given you hope in the past? In what ways is He trying to give you hope now? What biblical promises can you stand on as you navigate your current circumstances What are ways you can walk towards more joy and peace in your daily life?
Go back and take a minute talk to God about each of these questions. Mull them over. Don't be in a hurry. Meet God as you discuss and answer these questions.
If you are not struggling with feeling hopeless currently, here are some ways you can be a vessel of encouragement for those who are:
Write an encouraging letter. Be encouraging and empathetic. Speak life back into their bones and remind them of the promises of God by finding verses and reading God's Word to them.
Ask them what type of support they need from you. Do they need someone to listen? Do they need someone to help meet their physical needs? How can you shine God's light of confident hope into their life?
If you would like a list of verses on God's hope, go to: Scripture-By-Topic
Here's a prayer you can use to begin your prayer.
Heavenly Father, please give me real, true, confident hope - a hope that only you can give me. Please fill my heart with peace and joy that surpasses all understanding during my most difficult circumstances so that my testimony might bless others and bring glory to your name as the one and only all-powerful God. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What is hope? As Christians, this might be a familiar term but can often be mistaken for wishful thinking. In Romans, Paul reminds us that hope is much more concrete than wishful thinking. The word translated hope here means "A solid confidence based on absolute certainty." And we are called to overflow with hope from the Holy Spirit. It seems easier said than done, but consider what Paul says first: "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him." God is the source of our hope. God filling us with joy and peace is what leads us to hope, and we receive it through our confident trust in God.
Though our circumstances might feel hopeless, God can and will fill us with His joy and peace if we will put our complete trust in Him. Then, we can be sure that hope will follow, even during the most trying circumstances.
Hebrews 6:19 (NLT) says: This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls . . . Hope is the anchor of our souls during the worst of storms. Hope comes from putting our confident trust in God and holding onto His promises because we know that God works in all things for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28 NIV). If you're feeling hopeless, remember, with a confident trust, that God has not abandoned you. He loves you. He did not randomly place you on this earth and then leave you alone. God is at work in all things, for your ultimate good. He has promised it, and he will make good on that promise. You can confidently trust Him.
Allow God to remind you of what a truly loving and confidently trustworthy God He is. And watch for him to be at work in your life accordingly. Ask for the supernatural joy and peace that God will fill you with to comfort and guide you as you navigate this season of life. Keep an open heart towards Him and how He reveals Himself and His power to you in your time of need.
Consider slowly re-reading this scripture and devotion, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally and specifically. Highlight, circle, underline, and note the words that stand out to you.
Questions: How has God given you hope in the past? In what ways is He trying to give you hope now? What biblical promises can you stand on as you navigate your current circumstances What are ways you can walk towards more joy and peace in your daily life?
Go back and take a minute talk to God about each of these questions. Mull them over. Don't be in a hurry. Meet God as you discuss and answer these questions.
If you are not struggling with feeling hopeless currently, here are some ways you can be a vessel of encouragement for those who are:
Write an encouraging letter. Be encouraging and empathetic. Speak life back into their bones and remind them of the promises of God by finding verses and reading God's Word to them.
Ask them what type of support they need from you. Do they need someone to listen? Do they need someone to help meet their physical needs? How can you shine God's light of confident hope into their life?
If you would like a list of verses on God's hope, go to: Scripture-By-Topic
Here's a prayer you can use to begin your prayer.
Heavenly Father, please give me real, true, confident hope - a hope that only you can give me. Please fill my heart with peace and joy that surpasses all understanding during my most difficult circumstances so that my testimony might bless others and bring glory to your name as the one and only all-powerful God. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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