FINDING HOPE

August 26, 2022

FINDING HOPE


We all face moments, even seasons, where we lose all hope. When we realize a physical problem is not going away, a prodigal seems unreachable, our finances are overwhelming, a business or ministry is failing, a marriage seems beyond repair … when God doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers.

Hope is essential. It’s critical for survival. People who take their own lives are always tragedies of hopelessness. They feel trapped, and suicide seems like the best possible option (which it is not).

But give a man or woman even a small amount of hope, and they can go on. They can endure anything and find rest even in the darkest places. Humanistic hope is helpful, but hope based on God is the most powerful antidote to the despair we sometimes feel as we walk through this fallen world.

JEREMIAH’S LAMENT

Jeremiah lived during a season of Israel’s history that seemed hopeless. The people would not turn back to God. Jeremiah’s “ministry” seemed a failure. God’s discipline took them into Babylonian captivity, and still, they would not turn. Their captors were seemingly invincible, and they despaired of life.

Jeremiah was overwhelmed at times himself. But he saw reality because he walked with God. He remembered the truth. He came back to hope in his Father's never-ending, daily faithfulness. How can we do the same?

Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind. Therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him; to the person who seeks Him. (Lamentations 3:19-25)

 

Real spiritual hope is based on the character of our perfect God. Jeremiah remembered these five things:

  1. God’s lovingkindness never ceases.
  2. His compassions never fail.
  3. Every day we receive new mercies.
  4. He is our portion (if we’re His children), and we have everything we need in Him.
  5. He will always be good to us if we wait for and seek Him.

IT’S PERSONAL

Have you lost hope? There is only one remedy: you must remember God. Remember His character, remember His promises, and remember what is ultimately ahead. You must wait for Him and seek Him, even in your pain. When you lose sight of Him, you’re headed back to hopelessness. So you must remember AGAIN (and again and again).

You must “strengthen yourself in the Lord” as David did. The place to find this is in the Word of God, by the Spirit of God (our great Comforter), and with the people of God. He has never failed one of His children who looked to Him. Never.

It's essential that you pursue Him until He restores your hope. The world is watching those who claim to belong to the Father to see if Christianity proves true in the places they are facing. Our greatest witness if always in our darkest season. And God--our faithful, merciful Father--is always there.

Father, we’re overwhelmed with You. You have given over 7,000 promises in Your word to those who seek You. Your character is the center of our hope, the ground of our joy, the refuge for our contentment. Lead us there and keep us there, Father, so our hope-filled lives can be a testimony to a hopeless world.

 

 





Also in Graceful Truth

A SIMPLE, POWERFUL PRAYER TO MEMORIZE AND PRAY FOR OTHERS
A SIMPLE, POWERFUL PRAYER TO MEMORIZE AND PRAY FOR OTHERS

March 28, 2024

The Bible is a prayer book. Every page can be prayed to the Lord. Every truth can form our communication with the Father as we pray for people and situations.

Here is a powerful and beautiful prayer to pray over those you love.

Continue Reading

TEN GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW TO TREAT EACH WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENCES IN NEGOTIABLE, PREFERENTIAL AREAS
TEN GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW TO TREAT EACH WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENCES IN NEGOTIABLE, PREFERENTIAL AREAS

March 27, 2024

Don't be a Pharisee. You're not right about everything and neither are others. There is is plenty of room for disagreement on many issues and we should humbly admit this. Some issues, clearly found in the Word of God, are worth dying for. But others are not and should be treated with humility, deference, and love.

Continue Reading

THE SIMPLEST, MOST SUCCESSFUL WAY TO LIVE
THE SIMPLEST, MOST SUCCESSFUL WAY TO LIVE

March 26, 2024

Want to live an uncomplicated life? Get in the right posture every day (dependence upon God and a humble willingness to follow the promptings of His Spirit and the illumination of His Word). Follow His leadership. God (and His love) will flow through you, and you will fulfill everything He desires. You will be astounded by His love … and so will a watching world.

Continue Reading