The times we live in are so troubled. People losing their jobs, the stock market falls, natural catastrophes, and uncertainty in what the future holds. In today’s economy there is little to hope for the future however God is never caught off guard or by surprise. God knows the future. You are not the only one that has felt that there is no hope. Even Bible heroes had their times when they wanted to give up. Job, Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah, even the powerful prophet in the Old Testament, Elijah.
Humans have definitions of hope that are different from God’s. We might hope our team wins the Super Bowl, or we might hope we don’t lose our jobs or our house. But the biblical definition of hope is not a hope-so but a know-so. Our hope in God is surer than the sun rising in the morning. Just read these verses of hope and put yourself or your own name in the place of “I” or “we”. Where is hope found? It is in the Bible, the Word of God. Psalm 119:74 “I have put my hope in your word”, in Psalm 119:81 – … I have put my hope in your word”, and in Psalm 130:5 – … in his word (The Bible) I put my hope.
Here is real hope. When a person reads the Word of God (Bible) they can know for certain that they have a secure and certain future for God will never allow us to suffer beyond our own capabilities to handle it. There is nothing on this earth more certain than hope in God. He will never leave us nor will He ever forsake us. He is our anchor in the present and for the future.
If you are a believer you can rest assured that God’s love is unfailing and He will deliver us in the days of calamity. He has rescued the born-again believers from certain judgment and promised us an eternal home with Him. Instead of using ink, God has signed this redemption with Jesus’ own blood which seals you permanently. When our hope is in the Lord and not in us, it is a rock solid hope.
We know that there is always hope when we trust in God for He has given us His Holy Spirit to seal us as we read in Ephesians 1:13, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”
God had plans for you. You can bank on that. His plans are not intended to harm you but to prosper you. Now this does not mean that He plans to make you rich but He does plan for you to have a secure future. God says that He has plans for you and He knows them even if we do not. Your stockbroker or financial advisor might have plans for you too, but they do not know the future, they may try to plan for a secure future but they do not have the ability to bring it about. God knows your future and is planning it better than anyone else can, ever ourselves.
Hope is for now, it is for today, and it is for tomorrow too. Jesus clearly tells Christians that He will never leave us, never forsake us, and will never, ever caste us away (John 6:37). This promise is for tomorrow morning, next week, and next year. This hope is the believer’s hope that covers their entire life. It is without end and will stay with us until Jesus comes for us.
I am a father and grandfather. My children have troubles. They come to me for advice. I am always offering them hope that all things will work out for their best despite what today may seem like (Rom 8:28). I delight when they come to me with their troubles. So too does the Lord delight when we put our hope in Him and His unfailing love. He wants us to depend upon Him for everything. He delights to give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).
If we have our hope in the right place, that is not in ourselves, our jobs, our circumstances, but in God alone, we will never be disappointed. We will never be ashamed for placing our hope in Him because He has the power to deliver us out of all our troubles. We do not posses that power. Our 401K does not have such power. God owns the whole earth, He owns every animal in the forest, and He is the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills as Psalm 50:10-11 says, “for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.”
We are finite creatures and can not look beyond today but God has planned every step we take. He guides us and protects us, even in areas where the dark shadows of death seem imminent in the lowest valleys (Psalm 23). We might plan our own course but God Himself determines where our steps go (Prov 16:9).
If we are not a believer, then we have only hope in this world and among men are most miserable. But if we are Christians, then we can take heart and be courageous because God is our hope. When God is your hope you have a sure thing. When it is in the world, then we are consumed with worry because we don’t know what comes next. Those who have hope in God have hope in the only One Who can guarantee our future.
When we hear the words “fear in the Lord” or “those who fear him” this is not a fear of punishment or retribution. Fear is simply a reverential respect and standing in awe of God. That is what “fear of the Lord” means. It means that those who reverence God and His name have nothing to fear at all; no evil, no pestilence, no begging for bread, and no fear of want. His unfailing love is upon those that fear or revere Him: His love never fails and His eyes are fixed on you in a permanent gaze that is transfixed upon your today and your tomorrow. You are the apple of His eye (Duet. 32:10, Zech 2:8).
Our hope in God is a shied of life. Not only a shield in eternal life but in the present life. He is our help when we need it and our shield when we need protecting. God alone is our help and our shield.
When we look to ourselves, our employer, our retirement fund, or our inheritance, we can not fully hope with 100% certainty. But what do we look for when our Hope is in God? We know that even our employer’s decisions are in God’s sovereign hands. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” The king thinks he might be in charge, or the boss might think he or she is making their own decision, but in God’s sovereignty, they do nothing that is not in God’s divine plan for us. They are subject to the Lord’s will whether they know it or not.
(These are repeated in Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 43:5)
Here the Psalmist examines his own heart in asking, Why am I so downcast? Why am I so disturbed? when really he has no reason to be because when hope is in God we have reason to praise our Savior and our God. If you do not know Christ, then I would agree that there is every good reason to be downcast, to be depressed, and to be so disturbed. The world is the most uncertain place to live in today above any other day but not so for those whose hope is in God.
I have often times wrestled with tomorrow while I lay down to sleep. The many “what if’s” haunt my mind and do not allow me to sleep as I rehearse the day’s events and worry about what happens tomorrow if…. But worrying about tomorrow is borrowing trouble from tomorrow and spending it on today. When you realize that tomorrow is already taken care of by God alone and the hope you have in Him, then you can find rest. It is easier to sleep tonight if you know tomorrow is in God’s hands.
Hope In God Bible Verses
If you are feeling hopeless and worried about tomorrow, next week, or even next year read the rest of these verses and see how far having hope in God goes:
Psalm 65:5 You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas
Psalm 69:6 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord…
Psalm 71:14 But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 71:5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
Psalm 9:18 But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Psalm 9:18 But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
Job 11:18 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 119:74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
For A Certain Future!
If you are not a born-again Christian then you have no hope in this present world. Your future is uncertain and you have no idea what tomorrow may bring. Decide right here and now, at this very moment, to fix your hope on the rock-solid promises of God and all of these verses can be literally claimed by you. It is a promise from God Himself. Today is your day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Here is how you can have a living, breathing hope. Even if you have to print this out and read this on your knees, or you have to read it out aloud right now, I ask that you would receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today. Do it right now and you have the assurance of hope in God for today, tomorrow, and for all eternity:
I Admit – that I am a sinner and in need of a Savior (Rom 6:23)
I Abandon – self-effort and realize I can not be saved by my works or efforts (Acts 16:31)
I Accept freely Christ’s payment for my sins, required of the Father (John 3:16)
I Acknowledge Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior (Acts 4:12)
If you have just received Jesus, you have now received God’s inheritance rights since you are now a son or daughter of His and can never be lost again & live forever (John 10:28-29). Now, join a Bible-believing church, or call 1-888-NeedHim (633-3446) for follow up questions about salvation that is only available through Jesus Christ.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Great piece Jack. God is truly the only source of hope! My hope and prayer is that many will be encouraged to find their hope in God through this article.
You’ve raised my hope,this article is timing because there is one thing i’ve been hoping the Lord to do for me the past 12Yrs and just last two days i gave up(lost hope)but after reading this article my hope is high again.May God bless you.
Great article Jack. It goes to the mission of this site “… equip, encourage, and energize Christians.” This one did all three and more for me today. Well done brother!
Thank you Josh, and Pam. And also Margaret. Hey, I love that God’s Word can help people in such a hopeless world without Him. Our joy can not be compared to those who do not know Him. It is not a hope-so hope but a know-so hope. Amen?
And again, thank you. All glory, honor, and praise to Jesus Christ and to Him alone.
Thank you Jack for this wonderful article. I was almost about to lose my hope. But after reading this article I have hope in God.
Thank You.
Jenyfer, thank you so very much for your encouraging comment. Truly, you have made my day. I have been lost in hopelessness to my friend and I found relief only in the Word of God. Please come back again soon, please.
Thank you and bless you. I feel this message is meant for me.
I am surrounded by many problems and I know that my only hope is in the Lord. I have come to a stage where I do not even know what to pray for first. I was planning to fast and pray soon. I have to sell my land on an urgent basis, I have to settle a government loan, and 2 of my daughters have shared their problems with me and have requested for prayers.
I am really lost. Which of the above items do I pray for first.
Shalom.
Puteri, thank you for visiting us and for your comment. I love the pattern of what is called the Lord’s prayer but not just repeating it. The letters that spell out ACTS are a great help to me.
A-adoration to God the Father, thru Jesus the Son, and praying in the Holy Spirit. God’s name is a name above all names and to be honored and hallowed.
C-confess your sin. Sins block our fellowship with God, but not our relationship. The Psalmist said that he or she who covers their sins (does not confess it) will not prosper but he or she who confesses their sin will prosper.
T-thanksgiving to God. Thank God for everything we have. Even our trials and troubles work out things for our best (Rom 8:28). Thank Him for life, home, family, job, even problems but God loves to hear our thanksgiving to Him and one God’s favorite offerings in the Old Testament were the “Peace Offerings” which where really offerings of thanks to God for all that He has done.
S-supplication. This word means pour out your needs to God. There doesn’t need to be any order at all. I always pray for others first, for the government, leaders, police, church members, and those who seek prayers at this website. I always try to put myself last. Putting others ahead of our own needs is a godly way to pray because Jesus put others first. You should not have to worry which person or need goes first in your prayer. Just talk to God. I like to get on my face, hands, and knees and just pour out my heart. Its not so much which comes first or what should come first…just let it all out to Him in any order that your heart seems to feel.
I hope this helps Puteri. Praying for you too. Please come back again soon. There are a lot of prayer warriors here for you.
Many thanks for praying on my behalf. I feel encouraged.
Be blessed.
I am glad to be of service Puteri. One thing I can think of is when we pray to God…just talk to God like you would a loving father if you ever had one. This delights Him so much and pour it all out on Him…He can take it. Just picture yourself as climbing up into the lap of God and Jesus’ Name is the boast up onto the Father’s lap that makes it possible. May God continue to bless you and your family.
Hello pastor Jack.
Really I put my hope in the Lord for all my life endavours. But sometimes is seems that things wants to grow worst. Please what will I do?
Hello Amajuoyi. Thank you for visiting us and for your comment. When we are brought to our knees, the only way to look is up. A man or woman stands only if they fall on their knees. God wants us to fully depend on Him for everything in prayer. When things get their worst, God is at His best, so have faith that God has not abandoned you my friend. Praying for you as I type this. Things get worse before they get better, but all things, even bad things, always work out for the very best for us (Rom 8:28). When gold is refined, the impurities and dross are burned away and when its close to being pure, it reflects the refiner. God is refining us thru trials to make us more like Him. No one in human history has ever suffered like our Jesus….and look where He is at today. Exalted in heaven. Our day will come. God bless and so sorry it took me so long to respond. Please stay in touch to let us know if your and my prayers are beginning to make a difference and if so, we know that Jesus’ name will be glorified in this.
this is very powerful thanks for your encourangement
And we thank you too Joan. I appreciate your visiting us and your very encouraging comment. God bless you my friend and please some back again soon.
thank you very much jack, this article sounded like a wake-up call when i went through it. i have been uplifted and its my prayer that many should be helped the same way.
Thank you so much. I am overjoyed that this can help someone because truly I have swimmed in the deep seas of hopelessness before and only the lifesaver of God’s Word kept me from drowning in despair. I am glad you visited us and left us with some encouraging words.
I’m so caught up in all my troubles, that it feels like i’m sinking and going to drown. I’m so tired and afraid that if i’m going to fall, i will not have the power to stand up again. I’ve prayed so hard but it feels to me that there is no answer. Sometimes i ask myself if i’m not praying wrong. My hart and soul belongs to my Lord, but it feels that He forgot about me.
Please help and pray with me in my time of need.
Thank you Johan for your comment and I most definetly will put you on my prayer request list. I too am like you in that I can not wait for the day when our King returns to rule and all sorrow, pain, and suffering will all be gone….in fact, the Bible says that He will wipe away every tear. I too am bone-weary my friends and at times it is very, very hard to go on. I actually think it is good that we acknowledge, like you did, that we do not have the power to stand up again because in 2 Cor 12:9 it says, ” But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Jack
Many thanks for answering. I never though there is someone out there that care. It make me already feels that the Lord is answering my prayers. It is great to know that there is real friends when you need them. I know the Lord will bless you for your good work. Keep it up because i know there are many like me out there, but sometimes we are to proud or to ashamed to ask for help. I’m so glad i accidently found this site.
Yes, this is so very true Johan. I think that when we pray for one another God is being sent several other prayers to Him and not that we move the hand of God but that we move the heart of God. You are so right my friend. I too have been too proud and ashamed to ask for help I must confess but I too am so glad you found this website. Truly, God is sovereign and if even a sparrow falls to the ground that God is not aware of, He knew you would come here and you have blessed us too my good friend. May God answer your prayers and the God of all comfort satisfy you with the Helper from above.
hi pastor Jack, Im so happy i found this site of yours. I am in the point of discouragement, frustration and hopeless moments. I have these feelings that burdened my heart and my mind. Even the words of the Lord is not so living and active. Im in great trouble. I am in Norway as job seeker. I left my job and went here to find work but many days after the interview i always feel depressed and frustrated. they always said to me that come back when you knew the language…. i tried studying it so hard and answer them as much as i can.. i let them feel that i tried even it is so hard just to let them know and feel that i am determined to know the language and willing to work in them. aside from that i have fear that my savings are near to end when in fact i dont have work to support my living everyday here. Ive been praying for this to God for many days that i want to come to Norway and find a job, yet it is really hard to find work here. seems all my hopes are gone and i am about to give up. your words indeed help me to pick up all the pieces. please include me in your prayers pastor jack. thank you so much
Kenny, it is my pleasure and privilege to put you on my prayer list and I am so sorry that this trial is what you are living thru right now. Know this, that we care and we are praying people and will do so for you sir. God bless you and thank you Kenny.
noticed a misplaced word. after the Psalm 130:7 in blue the word unfairly in the first line should be unfailing.
A great article Jack.. I’m referring to it in my Bible Study class this morning.
God Bless!
Thank you so much Scott. I appreciate that. Hope your Bible study class goes well. Please come back again soon sir.