Psalm 43:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Isaiah 40:30-31 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
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.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Colossians 1:4 We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
Where do you find hope? Do you have any at all? One of my favorite songs says, "My hope is built on nothing less, then Jesus blood and righteousness." Anything else you place your hope in will eventually fail. A person, a job, a talent, a government, an organization... There are so many in our communities who are living without hope. No hope for a job, or even a next meal. There are many who have lost loved ones, and have no hope of eternity in heaven. It is our job to send them the lifeline of hope that we posess. I am so thankful that I have hope- and that it is not simply meaningless wishes, but a solid foundation- an absolutely sure thing. I don't have to wonder if God is going to be there. I know that even when things in this life are bleak and horrible things happen I can trust that God still has everything in his hands. He can still calm the storm. I know that my future is decided- I have been saved by the amazing grace of God through Jesus death and resurrection. As we look toward Easter this coming Sunday- don't forget. It's not about a bunny, or colorful eggs, or candy. We have so much more to celebrate. We have hope and confidence in Jesus. If you have hope, share it with someone today. If you don't, I would love to share more with you about the only way to find it.
Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.