Got Hope?

Even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:3-4

Got hope? If only having hope were as easy as getting a milk mustache—one taste and we’d be branded with it.

Sometimes it feels as if hope is hard to come by. But hope in Christ is readily available every minute. God wants us to drink deeply of it, believing that hope can never be wiped away! He tells us that the Scriptures, such as today’s verses written by the apostle Paul, give us hope and encouragement. Since the Scriptures are God’s actual words to us, it is His personal encouragement and hope that we are receiving.

This hope is designed to permeate our souls so that even under the most dire circumstances, it strengthens us and the glory of God shines through us so others will see that He is the Source of our hope.

If we can’t seem to find hope right now, we need to ask ourselves how long it’s been since we last opened the Scriptures. I’m not talking about looking up something for an assignment or to prepare for a Bible study—just purposely being still, ready to listen to God’s voice.

God tells us plainly through the Scriptures that we can have hope! He knows how much we need it in our anxiety-filled lives. He assures us over and over again that every promise He makes will come true.

You and I have probably spent a lot of time in the “waiting room” of life, hoping for greater hope, waiting to hear a word from Him. When hope is our companion in the waiting room, those moments can be a joy, privilege, comfort, and exciting adventure while we thrive in His presence!

Remind yourself that hope is always available. Write “I will hope in Christ alone” on a card or sticky note and put it someplace where you can see it often.