Our Source of Hope

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.
Psalm 119:114 NLT

What do we have within ourselves to offer those who are without hope? Unless we have a store of God's Word hidden in our hearts, we don't have much.

There are many life situations that can steal our hope if we let them. During the holiday season, the number one reason is the loss of loved ones, followed by financial stresses and unrealistic expectations. Chronic pain with no foreseeable hope of relief can also lead to hopelessness... which then leads to depression and loneliness - which in reality is caused by a separation from God which in turn can cause a separation of relationships with those around us. 

And it's not walking away from God entirely, it's walking away from His Word - our source of hope. Billy Graham wrote: "True hope comes by trusting God even when circumstances are difficult. One way to know whether you're trusting God is whether you're obeying His Word. Trust produces obedience, which produces hope, which results in joy and peace; and that is the power of the Holy Spirit." [emphasis mine]

Hope does NOT mean we have everything, (Romans 8:23-24), but that we trust God to provide what we need - that which He promised. And how will we know what He has promised if we don't know His Word? Hope again. God IS faithful.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for losing sight of Your precious promises. Birth in us a fresh desire to know more of You, more of Your Word. We pray as Paul prayed that You - the Source of our hope - would fill us completely with joy and peace because we trust in You. And that we will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen