What is HOPE?

What is hope?

According to Merriams Webster's Dictionary:
Hope means:
noun
1: to cherish a desire with anticipation
2: trust
verb
1: to desire with expectation of obtainment
2: to expect with confidence : trust


David often spoke of putting his hope or trust in the Lord in the midst of his enemies. Trusting anyone is hard enough, but trusting someone or something you can't sense...that may sound ludicrous to a non Christian. Trusting and desiring something to happen, when there's no rhyme or reason to it is normal to us. We stand on His Word and claim in the impossible. To others looking at us, there may not be credible evidence to believe in what we hope for. To those that have witnessed the miraculous power of God, trusting in anyone or anything else is perplexing. There were people in the Bible that hoped for miracles, signs and promises. Did God deliver the hope of the righteous? Yes.

Hope is a desire that helps one go through dire circumstances, even in the face of death. SIn the bible, there are many stories about people that have been in tragic situations and survived. They may have been under attack by the enemy (such as David), persecuted by non believers (such as Abraham and Sarah) or in the face of death (such as the stoning of Mary Magdalene). They put their hope in God and were overcomers.

Why does putting hope in God give us?
1. Hope in a God will protect us.
Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield
2. Hope in God will give you strength.
Isaiah 40:31
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.
3. Hope in Him will give you fervor to continue in the race.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
4. Hope will bring you to your miracle.
Romans 4:18
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

Do you put your HOPE in God?