And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Psalm 21:34) 

 

The word “hope” is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Psalms to bring encouragement in the Lord. Most of us speak of “hope” interchangeably with other words such as dreams, wishes, desires and goals. We pray and hope, dream and hope, and you can probably think of other words that you use in connection with “hope.” The Bible most commonly uses the word “trust” in association with its definition. To hope in the Lord means that we are putting our trust in Him. In searching how often “hope” is used, I found that it comes up most frequently in the book of Job and the Psalms. One book describes pain and suffering; the other, praise and worship. But hope is the common thread in both. 

 

When we are down, we are desperate for something or someone to place our hopes in or upon. We need to know that tomorrow will be better. We need to believe that lives are changing toward the good. If we are sick, we hope to be healed. If we are in financial crises, we hope for restoration and prosperity. If we are in any kind of trouble, we hope that everything works out positively. We hope for a tomorrow that is better than today. Without hope, where would we be? How could we keep going? Hebrews 11:1 says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We must trust in the only One who brings real hope – Jesus Christ. Though we cannot physically see Him, we must place our faith in His love for us. Jesus is our only hope, for only He has the power to change our tomorrows. 

 

Do you need hope for today? Pick up God’s Word and ask Him to show you His hope for your situation. Regardless of where you are, He already knows everything about it. No trouble or trial is too great for our Lord. We have but one requirement: to place all of our hope in Him. There is no hope in the world, only fleeting moments. But God gives us hope in the eternal life that awaits us. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17 that our light affliction is but for a moment compared to the eternal glory that awaits those of us in Christ Jesus. Put your hope and trust today in Jesus. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit to comfort you with His hope of glory. 

 

When I read this devotion I was reminded of a conversation I had just yesterday. No matter your struggles, no matter your hurts, no matter your hopelessness, give God thanks, hand every struggle over to Him, thank Him for everything in your life and receive the hope He has just for you. As long as you have God you have hope. 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 (Romans 15:13). Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12). 

 

Have a beautiful day in The Lord! 

 

Today’s Reading is Proverbs 17:28