Our pastor recently gave a sermon on hope which he defined as earnest expectation. You and I both know when we have heard a good word, and this was one of them. It was a word that I have shared many times, which again is a clear indication of its worth.
In this world, on this side of heaven, I know that I would find it impossible to live without hope. Hope in God and His promises are one part, but the other part is just hope in the more. The more of the goodness of God is key for me. I rely heavily on this truth. God is good all the time and I will never debate otherwise. His very nature is goodness, so how could He possibly be anything but good!
Our level of hope is really tied to our faith. Both are unseen and yet they are what keeps us going. Hope in God, hope in His character, hope in seeing the desires of our heart come to fruition, all are what allow us to press on.
Many years ago I was in a place of total dependency on the Lord, a place that I can say is my constant these days, but where then I needed to see God move, and move quickly. My hope, my trust, my life as I knew it was tied to seeing certain situations come to pass, and quite frankly others go away! I say pass because literally I wanted to move from where I was to where I would see the evidence of God’s intervention.
Hope is the earnest expectation in what has not happened yet! Faith is the same in that we believe even when we have not seen. Here for me was the page turner. When I got to the point where I was content to be where I was, not seeing, not experiencing those things I was expectant to see, but happy to wait on God, I was delivered. I was delivered from fear, and its companion of worry and concern. I was able to say from my heart, “Lord, I don’t want to be anywhere else than where I am right this minute.” When I said this, without any reservation, within days everything that I was hoping would happen happened!
Everyone needs a stone of remembrance in their life. This was one of mine and I have never been the same since. I can hope, remaining earnestly expectant, knowing God will never disappoint. Yes, you heard me correctly, never! And to that I say, ‘Hallelujah! ‘
James 1:2-4 TPT My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing, and nothing lacking.