Dwelling in God’s word: the foundation of our hope
Many people are looking for hope to cope with, deal with and
be set free from the things happening in their lives that may
make them feel despondent, that they have no hope.
Serving in ministry at Messages of Hope, we are contacted by many people who ask, each in their way, ‘Where is hope for me?’
Faith in God and what he has done and is doing for us is the sure foundation for our hope as Christians. The sure hope that truly helps is that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.
But often people who need hope aren’t looking for faith in Jesus Christ because they are unaware that he is the source of the true hope they seek. I pray that many people will hear about and believe in the sure hope of Jesus Christ.
Some people might use the word ‘hope’ in place of the word ‘wish’. For example,
I wish it would rain. Or I wish it would stop raining. However, hope is so much more than what we wish for and is fundamental to who we are and how we approach life. If we don’t have hope, we can despair. Hope is a way forward. And there is only one true hope that can fill that need.
What do you hope for? You might like to list what you wish
and hope for and pray about them to God.
The next question to consider is ‘where do you put your hope?’
On a Messages of Hope program entitled ‘3 dollars in the bank’, a woman named Kerry shares her battle with hopelessness. ‘I remember sitting at church one day thinking, “What do I do?”’, she says. ‘I’ve got no job, I had an awful marriage breakdown and a nasty divorce, and I remembered my dad saying to me, “Leave it up to God”. I was sitting in church looking at the crucifix up on the wall thinking, “What am I going to do?”, and then I just thought, “You know what? That’s what I’m going to do. I’m just going to let go and just leave it up to God”.’
Hope is where God leads us through the trials we face in life.
Read Romans 5:3–5, particularly noting verse 4.
How does God bring good things out of difficult situations?
Hope comes from God. And we know from Scripture and often learn from experience that placing our hope in him can bring many blessings.
Read Isaiah 40:31.
What happens for those who ‘hope in the Lord’?
There is a song based on Psalm 62, otherwise known as ‘My soul finds rest in God alone’, which contains the lyrics: ‘The fields of hope in which I sow are harvested in heaven.’
Read Psalm 62.
In verse 5, the psalmist speaks about where our hope
comes from. In the following verse, the reason for this
hope is explained. Why can we be hopeful?
You may like to use Psalm 62 as a regular prayer, for this week, month or even throughout the year.
Hope is not something just for us personally. God calls us to share the hope we have in him with others.
Read 1 Peter 3:15.
What does this verse tell us about our calling
as Christians? And how does Peter suggest
we live out this calling? Name two attributes
he asks of us as we share the hope of Jesus.
Whom do you know who is looking for hope
to deal with what is happening in their life?
We are like beggars, telling other beggars, where to find food. And not just physical food, but the Bread of Life, who gives us hope. Jesus Christ.
To conclude, pray Romans 15:13.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pastor Richard Fox is the director of Lutheran Media. You can watch, listen to or read Messages of Hope at www.messagesofhope.org.au or www.messagesofhope.org.nz
Kerry’s story is at www.messagesofhope.org.au/3-dollars-in-the-bank
