Is your heart hungry for hope? I have good news for you, friend: there are three great Biblical reasons to have hope. When we recall and meditate on these profound truths, our hearts get oxygen to breathe again and cultivate a joyful expectation.
One of the great tests of 2020, and this test continues, is the testing of hope. When our life collapses, when the entire world is turned upside down and our normalcy is profoundly altered, where is our hope? What do we hope for?
The things we hope for are the things we expect that fuel and nourish our souls, strengthening them for the journey ahead. When there is a lack of the fuel of hope, how are we supposed to live?
Three Biblical Reasons to Have Hope
Faith without hope is not enough. We need to add the assurance of a future good coming to us, so we have the strength to endure the present sufferings and trials.
God speaks comfort through the prophet Isaiah back then to the Jewish people, and He speaks to us nowadays, breathing fresh hope when life unravels.
We can identify three Biblical reasons to have hope in God’s comforting message, starting with chapter 40, right through the last chapter. Every reason is tied up to one of the three different levels of hope:
- The hopes for our earthly life and life circumstances;
- The deeper hopes for our spiritual well-being and soul wholeness;
- The deepest hopes and longings for heaven on earth.
For each of these hopes, God provides a reason, a promise, and an answer, a solid truth on which we can lean on and build our hopes.
We need to add to our faith the assurance of a future good coming to us, so we have the strength to endure the present sufferings and trials. #hope #faith #BibleStudy #encouragement Share on XRemember to pin me for later!
Provision for Our Needs in This Life
The first reason is the truth that God always provides for our immediate needs as the Psalmist declares, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1)
In the book of Isaiah, this provision for the immediate problem, giving hope for the near future, is the prophecy of Cyrus, who will liberate the Jewish people from the Babylonians. He will allow the Jews to come back to Jerusalem and start the long and difficult restoration work. And truly, all these prophecies come to fulfillment, as described in Ezra 1:1-4.
This is a great encouragement, but what about when God’s provision is not what we expected?
Even when our lives don’t turn as we want and expect them, we still have God’s promise to meet our deeper hopes and longings. What happened to us is not God’s defeat. God has planned something new, and His plan is greater than everything we have seen before.
Provision for Our Spiritual Well-being and Wholeness
We all have this deep yearning in our hearts to be whole, free, and peaceful. Our broken hearts long for holiness and wholeness. We could easier survive the disappointment of more superficial hopes connected with favorable life circumstances.
But how can we survive when our deeper hopes for this life and for the afterlife, are dashed? The answer is, we don’t have to.
In Isaiah chapter 53, we meet the Suffering Servant who will save the world through His suffering. Christ’s death and resurrection have fulfilled this prophecy.
In Christ, God provides the ultimate solution to our spiritual problem. In Him, we have constant provision for our souls and spirit. Through Him, we are spiritually restored and have constant access to the Throne of Grace. He is the good Shepherd and nothing can snatch us from His hand.
Even when our lives don't turn as we want and expect them, we still have God's promise to meet our deeper hopes and longings for holiness and wholeness. #hope #encouragement #longing Share on XGod’s Ultimate Provision for Our Deepest Hopes
The believer’s life on earth is not easy. We will be tempted, tested, and will experience suffering and losses. In such a time of deep suffering, we need a hope that doesn’t shake, and that is not tethered to visible, shaky things. We need the assurance that our deepest longings will be met.
Our hearts cry to God with the psalmist, “Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure. Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.” Psalm 119:116 (The Message)
No, God will not disappoint our grand hopes: the hopes for the redemption of our bodies and heaven on earth, the hopes for our eternal future. It is safe for us to anchor our greatest hope to God’s irrevocable promise of the renewal of all things, the grand restoration, new heaven, and new earth. (Isaiah 65:17-25), (Revelation 21), (Matthew 19:28-30)
If you need to learn more about the renewal of all things, I can recommend the amazing book of John Eldridge “All Things New: Heaven, Earth and the Restoration of Everything you Love”.
If you enjoy devotionals, this is my favorite devotional book based on the above book: “Restoration Year: a 365-Day Devotional!“
We Have All Reasons to Hope
We have all reasons to hope, because of God’s rock-solid promises, guaranteed by His faithfulness to support and sustain all these three levels of hope in us.
As hope-receivers we can also become hope-bringers. We can become good-news bringers, shouting from the mountain tops (our various platforms and places of influence) that the Lord is coming and “his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.” (Isaiah 40:10 NIV)
A Prayer for Renewed Hope
If you need a prayer for renewed hope, I have prepared this guided prayer printable for you. Click on the image to download it and be strengthened and encouraged.
More Resources to Fuel Your Hope
If you need additional resources to restore your sense of hope, I can highly recommend these books.
Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu
Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer
Life Changing Stories by Mary Armand
Mining for God’s Gold in Life’s Dark Valleys by Margaret E. Head
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
Your Turn
Which of your hopes have been dashed? Which of these three reasons to have hope spoke mostly to you? Share your thoughts in the comments. If this article has encouraged you, please share it on social media. Thanks!
In His Word, God promises not to disappoint our grand hopes and to meet our deepest longings. #hope #encouragement #faith Share on X "Take my side as you promised; I'll live then for sure. Don't disappoint all my grand hopes." Psalm 119:116 (The Message) #hope #inspiration #BibleStudy Share on X
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Such an encouraging and inspiring message to have hope in all times and to place our hope in Christ! Thank you! Your words were such a gift!
Thanks so much, Nikki! I am happy that this post encouraged and inspired you.
Thank you for this encouraging post! Praise God that we have constant provision for our souls and spirit, and can have hope because of His rock solid promises! Blessings to you!
Thanks a lot for your encouraging comment, Carla! Blessings to you too!
Faith without hope is not enough. I love that phrase because it’s so true! God’s promise alone is a rock of hope. And I have faith in him. Thank you for these beautiful reminders.
Thanks, Mae! I am happy that you have faith in God and that the post encouraged you. Blessings to you!
Your words are always timely and beautiful. With hope and faith, we can get through anything. Love the idea that “As hope-receivers we can also become hope-bringers.” It’s a wonderful way to spread kindness. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks so much, Ana for your kind words! I am glad that this article inspired and encouraged you.
Hadassah, your prayer is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. May God answer you and the cry of many through it.
Peace and grace to you,
Tammy
Thanks so much, Tammy, and amen! May the Lord continue to answer this prayer and resurrect our hopes in new and fresh ways! Sending love and hugs!
Love this reminder. And the prayer is so helpful!
Thanks, Rebecca! I am glad that you found this post helpful!
Hadassah, What a beautiful and much-needed reminder that in Christ, we are hope-receivers. My eyes were especially drawn to “As hope-receivers we can also become hope-bringers. ” My prayer is that I be a hope-bringer to someone today! Visiting from Blogger Voices Network.
Amen! This is my prayer too! The world is in desperate need of hope nowadays and it is part of our calling as Christ-followers to shine His light in the dark and desolate places.