Hope – for You, Too!
“Hope” has a range of meaning in everyday usage. We often use it to express a desired outcome. “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” Or “I really hope my candidate wins.”
Hope pictures a preferred future, strengthening us to continue in difficult circumstances or unstable times. “Where there’s life there’s hope,” we say. “Hopefully, things will improve.”
But how do we maintain hope when things go from bad to worse? When life seems to cascade out of control? “Hoping against hope” seems a hopeless exercise – whistling in the dark, wishing for rescue.
The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who faced bitter disappointments, tragic losses, and life-threatening circumstances. Scripture records the heartfelt prayers of barren Hannah and bereft Job. Multiple embattled kings of Israel fearful of defeat called out to God.
Who can’t relate to the “prayer of despair”? But we also have many examples of “faith-filled prayer.” Habakkuk’s “I choose to trust You, God – no matter how bad things are”[1] is an example.
Expressing trust in the Lord for an as-yet-uncertain (to us) future is the best kind of hope. More than a mere wish, hope is expressed in an entreaty to the Almighty that is 1) grounded in His character and 2) acknowledges our true need.
Psalm 130[2] provides a great example. It begins:
1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
We may have different ways to describe being in “the depths” (“down in the dumps”; “this is the pits”). But we’ve all been there, crying for God’s attention. “I need help down here!”
The Psalmist’s swift shift from self to the Sovereign God is surprising.
3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Here is the secret to finding hope in despair. When we lift our eyes from our sorry state to the Almighty, we gain perspective. As sinful people we cannot approach Him on our own merits. Thankfully, the Holy One of Israel also forgives the penitent.
But are forgiven sinners exempt from the woes of this world? No, God is not a bottled genie granting three wishes. His purposes for drawing us to Himself and growing us up in our faith includes some very tough “boot camps.” How must we respond when the Lord delays in answering our pleas?
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
Since childhood we’ve been told to wait. But “hope deferred makes the heart sick.”[3]
Waiting chafes our spirits raw. Hope is the balm that soothes us in the waiting. Specifically, “in His word do I hope.”
The difference between “wishing” and “trusting” is huge. God’s Word reveals His character (e.g., faithful, loving, gracious). The Scriptures record His promises (to be an ever-present help in time of trouble,[4] etc.)
This often-sung psalm turns from the individual to the nation, to encourage and exhort.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
The focus here is NOT on the physical or material needs of the supplicants. Rather, what’s in view is mankind’s most vital need: forgiveness of sins. The sole source is the LORD, from whom flows lovingkindness and redemption.
God’s provision for realizing the hope expressed in this psalm is found in a person: Messiah. Over 2,000 years ago, a son was born in Bethlehem to a virgin. In accordance with God’s Law, the infant Jesus was presented at the Temple as the firstborn.[5] A devout righteous man named Simeon who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” was overjoyed to see this baby. It had been revealed to him that this child was the Jewish Messiah who would provide salvation. He is the “hope of Israel!” [6]
How could a man be the instrument of salvation of sinners? As the Son of God (with a human mother, but “conceived of the Holy Spirit”[7]), Jesus was the only human to live without sin.[8] He willingly gave His life as the God-appointed atoning sacrifice for sin.[9] Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave, demonstrating His victory over sin, death, and hell.[10]
The most hopeless of sin-sick souls who recognize their need of spiritual cleansing may receive forgiveness by believing in His name.[11] The wonderful news is that Jesus is not just the “hope of Israel.” The eternal salvation His death made possible is freely offered to all:
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek [Gentile]; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”[12]
The Bible gives us a sure formula for a “certain hope”:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly.[13]
Messiah Jesus is the “hope of Israel” and the nations. Another devout religious Jewish man, a Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus (later known as the Apostle Paul) became a follower and proclaimer of Jesus. He urged followers of Jesus to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age as we continue “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of our great God and Savior, Messiah Jesus.” [14]
Co-written by Jeff, LIFE Staff and Wes Taber, LIFE Global Ambassador
Are you in need of hope? Not a temporary helping hand through life’s difficulties, but a certain hope that lasts eternally?
God’s provision of our greatest need is found in the “hope of Israel,” Messiah Jesus. The Apostle Paul summed up his ministry as “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Assurance of the free gift of salvation to all who believe is grounded in the longsuffering compassion and unbreakable promises of our Creator.
Will you place your trust in Him today? We hope and pray you will!
Footnotes:
[1] Habakkuk 3:16-19.
[2] A Psalm of Ascents, these words were sung by Jewish pilgrims climbing the Judean Hills to Jerusalem to worship the God of Israel in the Temple.
[3] Proverbs 13:12.
[4] Psalm 46:1.
[5] Luke 2:21-24.
[6] Luke 2:25-32.
[7] Matthew 1:18-25.
[8] Hebrews 4:15.
[9] John 10:17-18; Romans 5:6-11.
[10] 1 Corinthians 15:3-5.
[11] John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10.
[12] Romans 10:12–13.
[13] Romans 5:1–6.
[14] Titus 2:11-13.