Disappointed or Confident Hope?
As we face difficult challenges and times, to avoid despair or depression, we seek for something or someone to give us hope for the future. Some dare to look to the government or a politician to give them hope. Some believe a political party will lead them back to prosperity and peace. There are those who believe things will work out on their own, and, others believe things will continue on as they always have i.e. recessions and recoveries, recessions and recoveries. Those who accept these lines of thought as truth are following those who have fallen into the deceit of the devil.
Look at what the Scripture reveals in Psalm 146:3 and 4, “Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. 4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.” We also read in Isaiah 2:22, “Don't put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”
To put your hope in men and their plans bring no assurance of good coming to you through them. As we look at the definition of the word “hope” in Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it reads, “ (verb) - to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment, to expect with confidence; (noun) - desire accompanied by expectation for or belief in fulfillment. When we look back at this definition in conjunction with the previous two scriptures we just read (Psalm 146:3 and 4 and Isaiah 2:22), we understand it is futility to put our trust or our hope in any man or world system.
It is important to our success to follow the wisdom of God’s Word when we encounter those who believe they have the answers apart from God’s wisdom.
‘Hope,’ as used in scripture, is not an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking without any foundation, but it is confident expectation based on solid certainty - God’s promises. Numbers 23:19 (ESV), “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
Read the following Scriptures carefully, and grasp fully the assurance we can have when we have out hope in God.
Isaiah 55:10 and 11, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 71:5, “O Lord, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O LORD, from childhood.”
We can have great assurance in putting our hope in God because, all He speaks will come to pass! He is the One who created all things and has an eternal plan. The Psalmist said, “You alone are my hope.”
Read these powerful words in Hebrews 6:17-19, “God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So, God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.” We have been given the unchangeable Word of God and His oath! The hope we have in God is strong, trustworthy, and is an anchor for our souls. Romans 15:4 and 13 , “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. ... 13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Take note of the phrase “as we wait patiently” in verse 4. I am inclined to believe this is a difficult area for most of us. I know it is for me. Waiting patiently is not one of my strong points.) The Greek word translated ‘hope’ in verse 4 is elpis. It means: expectation, something yearned for and anticipated eagerly, something for which one waits. When we trust in and confess the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, Jesus in us, then becomes the foundation of our hope and faith, which are in God.
1 Peter 1:20 and21 (NKJV), “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
The hope we have in God does not disappoint! Romans 5:5 (NKJV), “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Praise God!
We can hold to and trust the hope we have in God, for whatever comes to us here on the planet. Just as rock solid is the realization that we will see the fulfillment of our confident expectation (our hope) for eternal life and a home in heaven in the presence of God.
1 Peter 1:3 and 4 (ESV), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,”
John 14:1-6, “Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going." 5 "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
God has granted us a wonderful gift, in giving us a hope that will not disappoint. We may not understand why we go through the various trials and difficulties we face, but as we wait patiently, His promises will be fulfilled!
Praying the Lord will fill you with His love and peace and reveal Himself to you more every day.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture is NLT, New Living Translation
ESV English Standard Version
NKJV New King James Version