Hope

 What can I do when my situation seems hopeless?

1 Samuel 1:10    |    Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.

You can prayed. In the midst of Hannah's hopelessness, she prayed to God, knowing that if any hope were to be found, it would be found in him.

You can worship, Paul and Silas were on death row for preaching about Jesus, yet in this hopeless situation they sang praises to God. Why? Because of their hope in God's promise to always be with them.

PROVERBS 10:28    |    The hopes of the godly result in hapiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

You can focus on cternity. No matter how hopeless things seem here on earth, in Jesus you have ultimate, eternal hope. Because you know him, you have been promised a joyful eternal furure in heaven. There is so much more living to do beyond the grave. 

HAGGAI 1:9     |     You hoped for rich barvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 

You can persevere in putting God first, because when you follow where he leads, you know you will be going in the right direction. 

How do I put my hope in God? 

ROMANS 8:24    |    We were given this hope when we were saved. (f we already have something, we don't need to hope for it.) 

Hope, by definition, is expecting something that has not yet occurred. Once hope is fulfilled, it isn't hope anymore. 

Thus, an important part of hope is waiting patiently for God to work. 

HEBREWS 11:1    |     Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 

Have faith in God to do what he has promised, and trust that he will. Your hopes are not idle hopes but are built on the solid foundation of his trustworthiness. 

JEREMIAH 29:11    |    "Tknow the plans I have for you,'"says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." 

PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14     |     Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 

Hope involves an understanding of the future. And even here on earth God's plans are to bless, not hurt you. So if you follow his plans for you, you can look forward to your future with joyful anticipation. 

How does hope help me live better today? 

1 JOHN 3:3   |    All wbo have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as [God] is pure. 

Hope is the motivating factor to help you resist temptation and keep your life pure before God. 

Promise from God   JOB  11:18    |     Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safery.