Hope in Him!
From Romans 15:13 we read these words, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
HOPE IN HIM! Hope is such a powerful thing. Without hope, people dry up and die. But with hope, people don’t just survive but can literally flourish, even in the worst of circumstances. The word “hope” in the Bible comes from a Greek word that means, “confident expectation”. When we place our hope in the Lord and His Word, we can confidently expect Him to come through on His promises!
HOPE GIVEN BY A MAN. I read a story recently that illustrates the power of having hope in a wonderful way. The students at P.S. 121 Elementary School in East Harlem were kids without much hope. Their home lives were difficult at best, and the statistics showed that 75% of them would never even finish high school. In 1981, a millionaire by the name of Eugene Land, went to that school to share with the kids there. The school was very special to him because it was his alma mater 50 years previous. He was to speak to the 6th grade class. His prepared speech was a challenge to the kids to work hard and get an education, but he sensed that challenge would merely be empty words to those who had no hope. So at the last minute, he changed his speech and told the 59 youngsters in the class, “If you will stay in school I’ll help pay the college tuition for every one of you.” At that moment, hope was born in their hearts. One student said, “I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling.” The story goes on to state that nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school. Roughly 60% of them graduated from college. WOW!
What made the difference? Hope!
THE GOD OF HOPE. If a mere man, Eugene Land, can give a hope so powerful to motivate a group of 6th graders like he did, how much more can the Lord give hope to us to help us make it through our dark times of despair? In our verse for today, God is called, “The God of hope” (Rom. 15:13). No matter how bleak and black the circumstances, He can turn it all around in an instant and give what Isaiah describes as, “beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). The Psalms tell of how King David knew this to be true and used that truth to conquer suffocating feelings of depression and despair in his life. He cried, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:13-14).
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you struggling today? Does it seem like the problems of life are sinking your ship? Is the candle of hope beginning to grow dim against the dark backdrop of what you’re facing today? Are you losing hope for a lost son or daughter to turn to the Lord, a loved one suffering with a severe physical illness, a better marriage, a fulfilling job, a happy family, or a brighter tomorrow? Get your eyes off your problems and put them on the God of hope. The goodness of the LORD is right around the corner for you. Don’t throw in the towel because the answer to your prayer hasn’t come yet. Wait on Him with a “confident expectation” that He is faithful to His Word. He is never late and never in a hurry. He is always right on time, and He has a miracle with your name on it. So hope in Him! The Bible proclaims, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Put your hope in Him today! Think it over…🙏