Are You Behaving Hopeful or Hopeless?

I know God is working all things for our good to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Do we really know this to be true? Are we deep enough into our faith to truly comprehend this passage and to be reminded of this very hopeful passage daily? This above scripture is written to bring each of us fullness of hope. In moments of our despair, confusion and suffering HE is moving behind the scenes- Job 34:20. We must not forget to walk life’s journey in faithfulness to HIS word in order to feel whole and secure. So this brings the question- Are you behaving hopeful or hopeless?

What Is Hope?

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Hope is a feeling of trust. We are not able to see or touch hope it is not tangible in this way but let me stress to you that hope is one of the most critical components to a successful life’s journey here on earth. Without hope we would not be able to live, experience peace and continue purposefully. Our missions here in this very broken and confused society are hard enough and impossible without hope. It is the very backbone of the Christian faith. A pillar to our soul knowing God our father sees all things and has us and everything around us under control. Hope allows and instructs us to rely on God and to let God be God. It assists us to remove the control our flesh so desires to hold on to knowing God has the very best intentions and plans for each and every one of us.

Many scriptures in the Bible speak about hope.

Let me give you just several for reference:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future- Jeremiah 29:11 This scripture is quite relieving to my soul. Knowing God has a plan for me and not just any plan a plan to proser and not harm me. This exudes hope into our souls and provides comfort in despair in this unknown journey of life.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint- Isaiah 40:31 This scripture for me is a critical daily promise and reminder. If I do not refresh myself upon this scripture it very clearly speaks to what will happen- we will grow weak, weary and faint. Sisters look around you. Look at society forgetting to place God first and by doing so trying to control things and intentionally or not bringing havoc into their lives and the lives of others. How weary and faithless are the broken without hope restored.

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit- Romans 15:13 Our God is the God of hope! Faith and hope coincide very beautifully through our relationships with Jesus. It is through faith and trust we are able to grab and hold onto hope and place this hope deep down inside our souls for strength, spiritual and emotion provision. This passage says 'FILL you with Joy and Peace' these are both two precious gifts money can’t buy. It says 'So you may OVERFLOW with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.' What we must do to receive this is TRUST. First TRUST in faithfulness, then expect in HOPE.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see- Hebrews11:1 We are all looking for confidence are we not? If we are looking to society for this approval and confidence, we will be let down every time. For society does not understand this true confidence needed to grasp who and how wonderfully we have been created to be. It is only through faith to receive such building up of confidence in our hope and ASSURANCE about what we do not see. I love this word assurance. How solid of a promise is this word used. It exudes hope through faithfulness and trust.

The New Testament is a blanket of hope to the believer. Jesus died for the sins of this world in order us to be made clean through repentance, forgiveness and cleansing. We must have all faith in Christ and as we continue down our Christian journey building a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. We will exude all hope through Christ Jesus who is our rock, shield and all the many things the Bible say he is to us.