“Hope does not disappoint.” Romans 5:5

Hope

So many times when I’ve prayed for Ukraine, I’ve asked the Lord how to pray. One word keeps coming through loud and clear: hope! I can’t begin to imagine how discouraging and hopeless the situation must be for the dear people there. Without hope—some measure of hope—I don’t know how they can keep going. Hope is what carries us through difficult times. There is immense power in hope.

Hope is something we all need in the situations we face. Whatever we are trying to “make it” through, we need hope—a hope that is rooted in God giving us grace and strength to keep going. We so often hope “for what we do not see.” We can’t do that without God’s help. In fact, our hope reveals our trust in the God who sees everything.

I’ve noticed that when we’ve been stretched over and over, we come to a place where we think “that’s enough.” We can feel we’re at our limit—we can’t be stretched more. And then God takes us further and deeper into lessons He has for us. I can’t begin to count how many times this has happened in my life—and certainly in the last few years. I’ve thought, and said, “enough” a number of times.

Hope is what keeps me going. Hope that God won’t stretch me too far. Hope that He will give me all I need. Hope that good will come from hard situations. Hope that His grace really is sufficient for my every need. This kind of hope is what allows me to survive—and to persevere. No one is hopeless who knows the God of hope!

“A person can endure almost anything as long as he has hope; as long as he can believe there may come a change for the better. He can put up with privation; he can stand severe hardship; he can accept harsh confinement; he can live with discomfort; he can be patient through long illness. Hope works in these ways:

  • Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst.
  • Hope opens doors when despair closes them.
  • Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot.
  • Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God and His ability to redeem all men.
  • Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities.
  • Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism.
  • Hope sets big goals and is not frustrated by repeated difficulties or setbacks.
  • Hope pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit.
  • Hope puts up with modest gains, realizing that “the longest journey starts with one step.”
  • Hope accepts misunderstandings as the price for serving the greater good of others.
  • Hope “lights a candle” instead of “cursing the darkness.”* 

Father, we ask You for fresh hope in our hearts today—for those who are suffering, and for us as we walk through the difficulties we face. Thank You for Your faithfulness to us!

 *(taken from Village Times, YWAM Kona, 1981)