I have great news. Your hope is the Lord. That’s right. In this case, the Lord is the object of your hope. The person of God in Jesus Christ is your hope. Often we read that our hope is in the Lord, and what He is able to do for us. Let’s take a few minutes to think about what it means that God is our hope.
Have Jesus, Have Hope
Jeremiah made a wonder declaration. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” (Jer 17:7) He did not say “whose hope is in the Lord,” but “is the Lord.” If you sense a hopelessness right now but possess Jesus, you have hope, because you have Jesus! Amen.
What Is Hope
What is hope? I read this definition in a Tyndale Commentary years ago on 1 Thessalonians. It is confident expectation, not unfounded optimism. There is quite a distinction between the two and Christians possess confident expectation. What are you hoping for today? Or have you given up hoping for something. God will test your hope, because He is developing patience and perseverance in you. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Prov 13:12) Are you sick of hoping? Soon, you will be rejoicing.
What Is Faith
Simply put, faith is trust in God. We have to trust God for all areas of our lives, in all circumstances, and in the hope of heaven. Yet, the Bible gives us this definition, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) You might be asking, Faith in what? Let’s look at another verse regarding faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb 11:6) Your trust in God pleases Him.
The Character Of God
It is so easy for us to lose sight of God’s character. In fact, many pastors today dismiss this subject as something that is discussed in seminary. Although it can be an academic topic, it is very practical, personal and necessary for us. If God is our hope and our peace, we need to know what He is like, in short, His character. His character was declared by Moses, Jonah, Nehemiah, the Psalmists, and Paul. Let’s see what they said regarding God’s character.
– “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” (Ex 34:6,7)
– “But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.” (Neh 9:17)
– “…for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” (Jon 4:2)
– “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” (Ps 145:8-9)
– “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5:25-27)
Aha Moment
Hopefully, you have had an “Aha” moment. God is pleased with you when you have faith in Him. His character is worthy of your trust. It is His Person that should be your hope. Certainly, having hope in Jesus is necessary. But more importantly, Jesus is your hope. At the core of hope is your primary expectation that God and His character are your possession. “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” (Song 2:16)
God Is Always With You
You will never be separated from God’s love. You will never be separated from hope, because God is your hope. Put all of your desires, expectations, and hopes on the altar as sacrifices. Let God fill you with Himself and His love. Let your hope rest solely on God’s character. He is immovable, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” (Ps 62:6) He is constantly with you, “For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5) He is for you. He will complete the good work that He has started in you, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Phil 1:6) He will give you the desires, expectations, and hopes that are His perfect will for your life.
Hope Is Developed
Yet we have inconsistenthope, which is why we need to look at true hope as God Himself. God uses trials to produce patience, maturity and hope in us. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom 5:3-4) Your difficulties are not an indication of being out of God’s will, most of the time. God uses difficulty to produce more hope in us.
Hope Never Disappoints
Hope leads to God’s love. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom 5:5) Not only is God our hope, but He produces more hope in us as He matures us through trials. Today, if you are God’s child, you possess God, who is your hope. ALthough we may lose hope or have it inconsistently, God is always faithful and His hope is ever abiding.
Verses About Hope In God
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (Ps 31:24)
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. (Ps 130:7)
O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever. (Ps 131:3)
The LORD is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him! (Lam 3:24)
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God… (Ps 42:5)
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God… (Ps 42:11)
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God… (Ps 43:5)
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God… (Ps 146:5)
A Bonus Verse
For He [Jesus Christ] Himself is our peace… (Eph 2:14)