"I Need Hope"

  Too many times we find ourselves in difficulties and we have a melt down. We don't mean to and we can hear those around us telling us to trust and be strong. But that only goes so far. The uncertainty we face in our lives creates fear and anxiety. What is needed is hope! Where do we find hope when facing afflictions or needs? Hope that will endure is centered in God and in Christ Jesus. It is a living hope Peter says because God is living and Christ is living. (I Pet. 1:3) 

  If our hope is not placed in God and Christ, there will be little assurance and security when facing our troubles. Hope is where you surrender your own resources and look to the Lord God for the final and desired outcome! If we place hope in people, in our skills, education or anything else you draw upon when troubles hit, you open yourself to fear and uncertainty leading to anxieties and many more mental issues.

  Too many times we do not doubt God, we doubt us! That's just it because we focus on us and the troubles we face and that's when doubts arise and fears dismay. We look to God as we are. In other words, we know how weak and limited we are and think God is like us. Simply put, we depend and look at us in situations and that's what takes us down. We would like to trust in the Lord but we just can't get our focus off of us and so our hope is never founded in the Lord. It's in us and that's not hope. The teachings of what we call Scripture came from God and we need to understand the emphasis of Scripture is God's resources and God's faithfulness! Anything less creates fears.

  Let's listen to God:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  (Rom. 15:13)

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (I Cor. 1:9)

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." (I Thes. 5:23-24)

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." (II Thes. 3:3) 

"In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago." (Titus 1:2)

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Heb. 10:23)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

  I think these will do for now. Are you struggling? Where's your hope?