Friday, October 1, 2021
Today Jared would be 29 years old. This is his 5th birthday that I've been without him. How do I do it? Hope! But what is hope? Do you have hope or are you feeling hopeless? What is it you hope for? What is your hope in?
So the verse that actually started all this is Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." But God this is a 'faith' verse why are You giving me this? Do you want to me to do it on faith? "No, Hope!" Please, understand that in order to write this I had some 'homework' to do. God is doing so much in me and what I believe is that He wants ME to have more hope, and in the right things. Who can't use more hope? So, I decided to share with you what I've gathered. Let's Go!
One of Noah Webster's 1828 definitions of hope is that it is a desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety. It's more than a wish. It has substance. Let's continue with Noah's definition - An opinion or belief not amounting to certainty, but grounded on substantial evidence. What evidence? That the Bible, the word of God, is True, accurate and Oh so reliable.
So, that's what hope is; but what do I do if I'm feeling hopeless? Everything's a mess.... When we find ourselves in this place we need to do as David did. Say this, or any Scripture, out loud and like you mean it. "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." (Psalm 42:5) If it's just words the first time you say it, say it again and again and maybe get louder each time - make it personal to fit your situation. David was in such a place when he wrote this that verse 11 is almost exactly the same. You don't need to stay in that dark place. Hey, if it's good enough for king David!! Know what I mean?
By doing that you're praying the word of God. Why is that important? A little thing I found in Jeremiah 1:12b a month or so ago. It's something God told Jeremiah - "I am watching over My word to perform it." Blew me away!! He watches over His word to perform it! So, I looked up the word perform. Its Strong's #6213 It conveys the central notion of performing an activity with a distinct purpose, a moral obligation, or a goal in view. The word of God is powerful and we have it for a reason. It guides us not only in the way we should live but also where we should place our hope.
We need to be more focused on the word of God in our lives than anything going on in the world around us. It is grounded and doesn't change, unlike culture. It is God's word in us that brings us to where we're supposed to be - mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. You see, Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). As a born again believer He lives inside of you. The Word of God lives inside you! We need to make that where we focus our hope. Why? Glad you asked!
God is the author and source of hope - real hope, not a wish or desire. "Now may the God of hope fill you with ALL joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13). That is a full and rich verse. God is not only love but He is hope too. He wants us to be FILLED with ALL joy and peace when we put our faith and trust in Him. What happens when we do that? By the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit we will overflow with hope! I confess folks, I am definitely not there yet. However, I am closer than I was but not as close as I will be. Take some time today and evaluate where your hope is. Is it temporal or eternal? The Word of God is full of Hope and if that isn't where your hope is then you're just setting yourself up for disappointment.
If you believe you're hopeless think about this: "And without faith it is impossible to please Him,..." (Hebrews 11:6). So? Let's go back to the 'faith' verse that started all this: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." If you don't have hope can you have faith? My answer is that in Christ there is always hope, for everyone. A person is never without hope because the God of hope loves them enough to send His Son to die for them. I know a little how He must have felt. I also have the hope of being reunited with Jared in Glory! That sure will keep this mom going! :-)
"'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11).
This is the top portion of my note from Jared.
July 3, 2016
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