Abound In Hope
I believe we all battle with hopelessness at some point in our lives. Well-meaning friends try to prepare us for eminent disappointments by saying: “Don’t get your hopes up.” Others try to encourage us to take no risks, dream no dreams and accept life as it is; in trying to help us to avoid disappointment and failure. No matter what we are going through or who we are, we desperately need more hope. Hope breaks through the boundaries established by negative circumstances. Hope sees the present problem as temporary and soon to change. Hope dares us to believe that things just might work out after all. Yogi Berra, a confirmed optimist and famous New York Yankee baseball catcher, is quoted as saying: “It ain’t over till it is over.” In other words, as long as there is life there is hope.
The foundation upon which hope rests is the goodness of God. It is knowing that God’s thoughts toward us are for good and not evil. That His purpose will benefit and bless our lives. More than what we can even imagine, God is longing to show us His goodness. Hope stabilizes our emotions and gives us peace. It is knowing that nothing is impossible with God, that He is not against us, but for us and that all things work together for our good. Hope is having a vision and purpose. Mediocrity is where we go when we have lost our hope. Hope looks beyond the natural circumstances to God. It is a positive expectation of good. Hope is when you tell yourself: “Today is not a good day to give up.”
In contrast to what many believe, hope is not passive, it is active. It is not just waiting around for something good to happen. Hope energizes our faith to take bold steps of obedience to God’s Word. Joyce Myer has said that: “Hope believes boldly, decides daringly, speaks firmly and perseveres passionately.” Passivity is fatalism and hope is anything but that. Hope is a life-style. It is reflected in the way we speak, in the attitudes we express and in the way we treat others. It is looking up not down. It is choosing to see things as they can be, rather than as they are. Winston Churchill said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Embrace being hopeful on purpose. In doing so it will change you and release joy in your life.
We can’t get enough of hope. We always need more. We need to abound in hope. It is too easy to lose our hope in the world in which we live, so be diligent in getting your hopes up. As you abound in hope, you will have plenty to share with others. Try following these steps to keep yourself full of hope: First, turn the leadership of your life to God. Ask yourself if you are following God or expecting God to follow you. Next, choose to believe that God is greater than any problem in your life. He is on the throne and in charge. Then, boldly declare what the Bible says about you and your life. What God says is true…all the time. All His promises are Yes and Amen. (II Cor. 1.20) He loves you because He wants to and He desires to give you all good things. And finally, thank God for the answer, even before you receive it. Thankfulness is your response of faith in the hope that is set before you.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Mat. 19.26; Romans 4.17; 12.12; 15.13; Prov. 13.12; Is. 40.31; Ps. 27.14