...Hope

In the world we live in today, it can be hard to find hope.  If you turn on the news, you can become discouraged by one hopeless situation after another.  It seems the world would have us believe that all hope is lost.  But, thanks be to God, that is not true for those who believe and trust in Jesus!  

In truth, we never have to experience hopelessness.  That is not to say that we will never feel hopeless, or discouraged, or lonely, but we do not have to stay in those lowly positions.  If we allow ourselves to focus on negative circumstances rather than on Jesus, we may feel hopeless, but if we focus on Jesus and hope in Him, we “may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).  

Our family has learned through difficult times that Jesus is our true hope.  He is our strong tower and refuge.  Colossians 1:27 tells us that we have Christ in us, “the hope of glory.”  We, as believers in Jesus, have the best hope there is – the hope of His glory – the hope of getting to spend eternity in His Presence.  Isn’t it wonderful to have this hope?

One of my favorite hymns begins, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.”  I pray that if my children have learned anything from us, it is that they always have hope in Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that in you we have hope.  Help us to remember, regardless of what happens in this temporary place we live in, You have promised to be with us always.  We are never alone.  Our hope is in You, Lord.  Help us to live out that hope today.   

-angela mitchell