Don’t Miss This: Where True Hope Lives
Pointing out the window to a community in the country, I exclaimed: “Teresa, my friend from high school lives there.”
Another friend and I were traveling during the early morning hours to attend a conference near the town where I grew up.
It’s interesting to know where friends or people we meet live and work and worship.
Wouldn’t you agree?
But what if we knew where true hope lives?
Because life’s hurts, heartaches and injustices often leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.
Or, our dreams hunger for fulfillment.
Still, true hope lives closer than you think. Let’s find out hope’s address.
True Hope Lives Closer Than You Think
Google defines hope, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.”
All humans hope:
I hope to lose weight.
My friend carries many hopes in her heart.
The pastor said not to give up hope.
We hope our brother pulls through this illness.
Yet, sometimes things happen differently than we wanted. Hope exists in many forms. But when we cling to false hopes, they soon fizzle and leave us empty-handed.
Women often come to me looking for authentic hope. Did I pray enough? Where is God? Will He come through for me?
These are women in tough places. Hearts broken by tragedy. Languishing dreams with no pillow to lay their heads. In the same way, I relate to times of hard circumstances. Perhaps you can relate as well.
There’s something I want you to know. You are never far from hope.
There’s something I want you to know. You are never far from hope. Click To TweetFinding Where True Hope Lives
Friend, I want true hope. I’m guessing so do you.
This desire stirred my heart to search for the long-lasting kind. A quest more than just, Come out, come out, wherever you are! Hope with roots in something other than this world. So, I turned to God’s Word.
“For whatever was written in the former days was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (ESV)
You see, once we tap into the source of real hope, we make another discovery. True hope lives really close by.
The God of Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 (ESV)
God’s powerful actions, the work of His hands, brings hope into our lives.
First, God fills us with His joy and peace, so that we abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
With help again from Google, abound means “exist in large numbers or amounts.” Synonyms include, “abundant.”
The verbs fill and abound illustrate the abundant life Christ promises believers. Leaving the grandeur of heaven, for our sake, Jesus became poor so that we—joint-heirs with Him—become rich. We overflow with abundant hope.
True Hope Lives in Us
When Jesus lives in us through the Holy Spirit, He brings hope near. It’s not just around the corner, off in the distance, or on the other side of glory. And hope is not something we muster up in our own power.
But hope’s something we possess—a gift from God. Our spiritual clothes contain deep pockets with blessings, never short-changed on peace, joy, love, grace, mercy, comfort, or hope.
Hope is something we possess—a gift from God. Our spiritual clothes contain deep pockets with blessings, never short-changed on peace, joy, love, grace, mercy, comfort, or HOPE. Click To TweetWe hope in Jesus. Jesus is our hope. He’s the essence of authentic hope.
Our driver’s license displays our picture, describes a few of our physical attributes and notes our address. Likewise, our Christian ID card contains descriptive terms: beloved, child of God, saint, in Christ, chosen and free. Others say; Oh, she looks like her Father. Hope lives in her.
Dear brother and sister in God’s family, cling to this: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).Walk forward in the Holy Spirit’s power, believing hope abounds in you, because it does. Click To Tweet
Does Jesus live in you? Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? If you answered yes, then stop looking for hope’s address. Hope lives wherever the presence of Jesus dwells—in you.
Dear brother and sister in God’s family, cling to this: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Walk forward in the Holy Spirit’s power, believing hope abounds in you, because it does.
Also see, The Voice of Hope: 6 Mic-Drop Messages
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
On our Friday’s Forever podcast we discuss several recent YouTube videos and expound on this article.
© 2021 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
This is so important – hope. God knows we need hope in these challenging times. Thank you for the great reminders!
We need hope more than ever before. Lisa, walk forward in the Holy Spirit’s power, believing hope abounds in you, because it does.
I am thankful for the hope found in Christ. His hope brings comfort and peace.
It surely does. Meliss, walk forward in the Holy Spirit’s power, believing hope abounds in you, because it does.
Jesus is our Rock, our Hope, our Rescuer! What would do without him in our lives. I cannot even imagine not having his broad shoulders to cry upon, and his mighty name to call out when we are in dire straights and need his intervention. I just spent most of last night praying to this One who is our Hope over two situations that only he can superintend and work together for our good. Thank you, Jesus, for you great love for us! You give us hope.
Beautifully expressed, Melinda. Jesus is our ONLY hope. Melinda, walk forward in the Holy Spirit’s power, believing hope abounds in you, because it does.
Great reminders about what true hope is.
It’s so important for us to avoid the trap of defining hope as our culture defines it!
Ava, I really don’t know how people make it through hardships and loss without a real, lasting, and eternal hope.
Beautiful! Hope IS right there… and the hope of Jesus is available for everyone.
Thanks, Jessica. Remember, your Christian ID card contains descriptive terms: beloved, child of God, saint, in Christ, chosen and free. Others say; Oh, she looks like her Father. Hope lives in her.
Hope has been my word for this year, Karen, and I would have to agree that hope is ever near when we trust and obey the Lord. He gives us the very reason to hope in the first place.
Blessings!
Martha, I love that hope has been your 2021 word. I agree with your thoughts. Our highest source of hope, our sure and secure hope, and our never-ending hope lies in our Savior!
Amen Ms. Karen. Knowing the source of real hope, Jesus Christ, is key to having any hope. I wasted many years placing my hope in the pastor, elders, etc. Man, by their very nature, will always fail us. God has never failed us! Loved this post ma’am; as I do many of yours. God’s blessings!
J.D., I think it’s safe to say all of us have been let down by people or things we place our hope in believing it was a secure source of hope. But oh when we discover this truth, Hope lives wherever the presence of Jesus dwells—in you.
Jesus is the source of my hope. What a blessing for such an incredible source that is trustworthy always. Thanks for the encouragement Karen.
Yvonne, the other sources of hope out there are false or soon all fizzle and fade away. But how wonderful that God’s hope is enduring and sustaining!
Hope is our true lifeline when all else fails. When our faith is in the One Who is Hope, we need nothing else. Oh, that I remember that when all else fails! Why do I even need those other things that are the “all else.” But I often do! I am so grateful to my Lord and Savior and my Hope. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Linda, you expressed it so beautifully. Hope’s something we possess—a gift from God. Our spiritual clothes contain deep pockets with blessings, never short-changed on peace, joy, love, grace, mercy, comfort, or hope. A thousand Hallelujahs!
I’m so thankful that Christ within us brings us sustaining hope, Karen.
So am I, Lisa. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 (ESV)
Hope is always near. Thanks for the encouragement, Karen. God bless!
Thanks, Nancy. “For whatever was written in the former days was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (ESV)
Hope lives in us…we so often forget that! Thx for the reminder.
You’re welcome Jan, thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Love that you gave the address for hope!
He is a good, good Father. Why shouldn’t we hope with expectation of overflow?
I like this, “hope with expectation of overflow.” Oh, yes!
Yes, “Our spiritual clothes contain deep pockets with blessings, never short-changed on peace, joy, love, grace, mercy, comfort, or hope.” We need to be looking for hope in the right place. We need to be looking at the author of hope.
Theresa, glad to be intimately connected to the Hope-giver. Because hope really does have a name. It’s Jesus.
“You are never far from hope.” Whew–that’s a lesson I need to remember. Checking my deep pockets right now. 🙂 Thanks, Karen.
Lisa, it’s so comforting to realize hope is always near in Christ. And our deep spiritual pockets contain more valuable riches than loose change.