Tag Archives: hope

“What Is” Series: Hope

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Our hope is not in ourselves but in the Lord.

Hope to see you soon. Hope you feel better. Hope for a promotion. Hoping for the best. I hope so. Hope he/she remembers. Hope to be invited to the wedding. These are examples of what we say regarding our perception of hope.

But what is hope? Merriam-Webster defines hope as:

“To cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or to be true;

“To desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment;

“To expect with confidence; Trust.”

If hope is an expectation of what is to come, then someone who has no hope has lost their faith to believe in the One who gives us hope. If you lose hope, what happens to faith? Without faith there is no hope and without hope you die–there is no expectation of what is to come. We are lost without hope. Without hope we no longer believe in what God has promised in His Word.

Jesus gives us this hope. Let us look at some of the scriptures that pertain to hope–God’s evidence of faith and the hope within us.

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (NIV)

Colossians 1:27: “…the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (NIV)

Romans 8:24-25: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (NIV)

Romans 5:2-5: “…and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (NIV)

Job 17:15-16: “…where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?” (NIV)

Psalm 147:11: “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” (NIV)

According to the scriptures we have read, faith appears to be the catalyst that creates the hope that there will be a better tomorrow–that all will be well no matter what our circumstances seem to be at the time. There is no doubt in Biblical hope because we know “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Blessings,

Yvonne

Coffee Inspiration: Pour A Cup of Faith and Hope

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The Oxford Dictionary explains that Faith is:

“1. Complete trust or confidence in something or someone;
2. Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual comprehension rather than proof.”

On the other hand, Merriam Webster dictionary describes hope as:

“1. To cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true;
2. To expect with confidence;
3. To desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment.”

There are various scriptures that describe both faith and hope. Some of them on faith are as follows:

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

II Corinthians 5:7 – “We live by faith, not by sight.”

I Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Scriptures describing hope are as follows:

Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Psalm 39:7 – “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”

Hebrews 6:11 – “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.”

As I searched the scriptures regarding faith and hope, I was reminded that “without faith, there is no hope.” For example, several years ago our family lost a loved one. In a conversation with her fiance, he told me that he no longer had any hope. As I listened to his grieving heart, I asked the Lord to help me listen and to give me words to comfort him. It was then that I realized that even in a time of loss, that God wants us to continue to have faith in Him and in doing so we would have hope. As I mentioned this to him, I could see a change in his attitude and countenance. Since that day I have thought of and prayed for him and hoped that in time he would come to realize that there is “hope even in the darkest of times” when we put our trust and faith in God.

In “Thank Heaven for Coffee (and in other little pleasures)” by Barbour Publishing, Inc., I found the following quotes on faith and hope:

Faith: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

Hope: “Look to this day…for yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision…but today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

Remember, “He that lives in hope dances without music.”–George Herbert; and,

“Beginnings are always scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts. You just have to give hope a chance to float up.”–Steven Rogers

May the Lord bless your hearts and minds as you have faith and hope in what God can do.

Blessings,
Yvonne