How to Raise a Hope-filled Hallelujah
Lord, I raise a hope-filled Hallelujah!
Honestly, I often find it difficult to raise any kind of Hallelujah! Especially when hope seems to have skipped town.
But there’s something you and I must know. We are never far from hope. And we are never far from a hope-filled Hallelujah.
Because who doesn’t need hope? Multiple times in life, I felt all hope was lost.
(1.) Like my difficult childhood leading to issues in my adulthood.
(2.) When the good job and steady income suddenly ended.
(3.) When our second baby died in utero, leaving me with an empty womb and heart.
(4.) During my father’s month-long hospital stay and his passing away five days before Christmas.
Now, my family is currently walking through a dark valley where it feels like hope hides in the darkness.
Hope-less or Hope-filled
Yet, the false forms of hope the world always offered me in the past, faded and fizzled. They made me hope-less instead of hope-filled.
So, I went on a search to find the kind of hope still standing when all else falls away. It needed a foundation in something other than this world—true substance and measure.
Although hope seems intangible in how it’s not seen or touched, it is something we can know exists and then grab ahold of. Therefore, the perfect place to search is God’s Word.
The Apostle Paul tells us about true and lasting hope in Romans 15:1-13. He begins the chapter using Christ as our example to do good to others and not live to please only ourselves (vv.1-3).
Hope of Heaven
Now look at Romans 15:4:
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (ESV, emphasis mine).
Paul wants us to know the Bible was not only written as our instruction for Christian living, but also for our encouragement in possessing—grabbing ahold of—real, authentic, and undying hope.
The Bible was not only written as our instruction for Christian living, but also for our encouragement in possessing—grabbing ahold of—real, authentic, and undying hope. (Romans 15:4) #hope #hallelujah Click To TweetBut the good news doesn’t stop there. The verses that follow describe our hope in even more detail.
First, Jesus Christ became hope for all people. Namely, for the Gentiles who were not in covenant relationship with God like the Jews in the Old Testament before Christ came to earth. Still further, Jesus was born to die for the sins of all—Jews and Gentiles alike (Romans 15:8-12, ESV).
We each must acknowledge the sacrifice and death of Christ to receive eternal life. Jesus is the hope of heaven.
Raise a hope-filled Hallelujah!
God of Hope
Finally, this section of Scripture ends with one of my all-time favorite Bible verses.
“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, emphasis mine).
Here, we realize hope not only comes through Jesus, but also from God. Our heavenly Father is the Hope-Giver. His hope-giving all started in a lowly stable when Hope entered the world in the flesh.
Our heavenly Father is the Hope-Giver. His hope-giving all started in a lowly stable when Hope entered the world in the flesh. #hope #hallelujah Click To TweetThe Christ-child grew into a man. During His ministry, Jesus spoke of the hope He came to dispense to everyone who believes. Christ took our place on the cross and became our only hope for everlasting life. Hopeless never has the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave.
An empty tomb secured our eternal life in the future and our abundant life in the present. God fills us with all joy and peace in believing. Why? So that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we abound in hope.
Raise a hope-filled Hallelujah!
Hope Abounds
Notice, the filling with joy and peace is “in believing.” Our belief that God is God and Jesus is Savior sets the stage for believing God fills us with His joy and peace. If we believe, then the power of the Holy Spirit causes our hope to abound.
“Abound” means “to have in large numbers or amounts” (Google).
Oh, please don’t miss this. God promises to give us hope in large amounts.
Raise a hope-filled Hallelujah!
Hope-Giver
The Hope-Giver’s job never ends. He sent us Hope from heaven in the form of His precious Son. Now, He continues to fill us with joy and peace, and empowers us through the Holy Spirit until our hope abounds. We have access to hope any and every time we need it.
But we have a job, too. Our job is to keep hoping in God (an action verb). And to keep believing in the personification of Hope (a noun).
Because Hope has a name. It’s Jesus. Therefore, we are hope-filled and not hope-less.
Remember those hard situations of loss and devastation I mentioned from my life? Each time, God patiently waits for me to fully believe in the hope of His Son, then He fills me with supernatural joy and peace so abundant hope abounds in me.
God patiently waits for us to fully believe in the hope of His Son, then He fills us with supernatural joy and peace, so abundant hope abounds in us. Raise a hope-filled Hallelujah! #hope #hallelujah Click To TweetSo whatever hardships you are currently walking through or may come your way; never let hopeless get the last word. Instead, claim the promises in God’s Word.
Raise a hope-filled Hallelujah!
*For more on my story and why the theme of this blog is “Hope is Among Us,” visit my home page.
*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Kingdom Bloggers/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Abounding Grace/Welcome Heart/Recharge Wednesday/Porch Stories/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Sitting Among Friends/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Fresh Market Friday/Faith On Fire/Dance With Jesus and Faith and Friends.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
I love this post. I, especially, want to hold onto “the filling with joy and peace is ‘in believing’.” I know when I lose hope it is because my faith has dwindled down to nothing. I have lost sight of the Lord and am focused on my pain or my problem. I need to keep my eyes on Jesus, believing in the Truth that there is hope because He is victorious. Thank for sharing this great, encouraging post filled with Truth!
Hey Cheryl, I like how you said there are times your faith has dwindled and lost sight of the Lord, focused on the problem. I needed that reminder myself. May we both remember, “…the filling with joy and peace is “in believing.” Our belief that God is God and Jesus is Savior sets the stage for believing God fills us with His joy and peace. If we believe, then the power of the Holy Spirit causes our hope to abound.”
Reading this message, I began singing “I raise a Hallelujah”. Thank you for reminding me there is always hope found in Him. In dark times and in joyful times, He is always with us.
Yes! Whatever hardships you are currently walking through or may come your way; never let hopeless get the last word. Instead, claim the promises in God’s Word.
Raise a hope-filled Hallelujah!
Hope is certainly Hallelujah worthy my friend. My hope lies in knowing how this story ends, because through it all, it is “His story.” While I pray all the valleys I travel through are short, and all the temptations and trials I grow stronger to withstand with each one, my hope is knowing that since I am an adopted heir to the glories of heaven, my story is His; and it ends in perfection, peace, and love. Whatever valley you and your family are traveling right now, please know you are not alone. For you are a part of God’s “Family of Faith” and we will all walk beside you and lift you up so your journey achieve the goal God has planned for it, for you. God’s blessings; and know you remain in our prayers. Until the day sweet friend…
Hope deserves tens of thousands of Hallelujahs! Real hope only found in Jesus. Thanks for reminding me we know how the story ends and we can trust the Lord as He writes our story, even from the valleys, there will be a story to tell…a story of victory! Thanks for walking beside us and lifting us up in prayer.
Praying for you Karen. I have found that I raise my hallelujahs louder when I need hope. Because where does my hope come from, it comes from the Lord. Without Him, I would sink be mired in a pit of despair. Unfortunately, we still experience the heartache of loss and grief but our hope is eternal and not of this world.
Amen, Yvonne. Our hope is eternal and supernatural. In fact, hope has a name. It’s Jesus. I’m clinging to Jesus and hope harder than ever! Thanks for your prayers.
Such an encouraging post, as always, Karen! All of us go through dark times when we lose hope. You offer the remedy here. God bless you, sister! I continue to pray!
Thank you, Melinda. I appreciate the prayers. “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.
So many occasions and circumstances, even the ones that cause storms in our lives, are perfect opportunities to raise a hope-filled Hallelujah! Thank you, Karen, for reminding us today that our hope lies with Jesus each and every day.
Blessings!
Martha, yes, even in the storms, even through the darkness, a glimmer of hope is still there because Christ never leaves or forsakes us! God bless!
I was just in Hebrews 11/12 this morning and reading about our illustrious “hall of faith”…… It’s rather fascinating to read about the likes of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah. We know their stories — the unknowns of their lives, the seeming uncertainties, the changes, the disappointments, the “revamps”! Sounds alot like our lives, huh!! But a few phrases jumped out at me — v.10 “looking forward”, v13 all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.
Walking by faith — not seeing, not understanding — but still looking forward, continuing to walk it by faith! Day after day after day. These, our ancient forefathers, were/are such a beautiful picture of faith. And as I studied, it made me wonder HOW did they do it? And I think we get insight in v.16 they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Amazing…. walking thru this life, but our “desire” set elsewhere. What a difference that would make! V.28 says the world was not worthy of these — v.39 says all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, v.40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
I think about that…… and it makes me wonder. What if the things of our life that seem to be less than ideal, less than we hoped for — what if we are to live this “less than life”, if you will, for the sake of someone else? The Lord has really been piercing my heart of late that I’m a puzzle piece, I fit into the picture, — He has a definite place for me and a part that I play,– but I’m not the picture! So my piece falls to the floor and the dog chews me (and this happened when we worked our family puzzles over the holidays!) But we retrieved that chewed up piece, we smoothed it out best we could, and crammed that sucker in! And actually, within the big picture of our puzzle, the “Jasper piece” had the better story!
Well, it’s now confirmed — I can’t EVEN type a simple comment on somebody else’s blog without a gazzillion words! My mouth runneth over! Maybe we need to just schedule us a lunch and sit and chat and talk hope and faith and chewed up-ness!! I’ve missed seeing you!!!
Kathy, your comment is a whole blog post. 🙂 You should write it. But, yes, such truth in your words here. Walking by faith even when we can’t see it, but looking forward and setting our desire on a better place. I used the tell the Lord I wasn’t too thrilled with Hebrews 11:1, because while faith being the “assurance of things hoped for” was comforting. The part I didn’t like is the “evidence of things not seen.” Nope. I don’t like those unseen thing. Not at all. But that’s faith in a nutshell. So I must resolve to believe all of Hebrews 11 and all of God’s Word. Right now as I hope for things not seen, I’m trusting the Lord to write, even rewrite my story, with a renewed hope and faith.
Dear Karen, this was so inspiring! I was shouting hallelujah right here with you! God’s Word and the power of praise are powerful spiritual weapons. Thank you for teaching these truths through the lens of hardships. Jesus gives us hope that this world can never touch. He gives us a reason to rejoice, come what may! God bless you and your family. Lifting you all in prayer, dear sister! He is with you and He is mighty to save!
Melissa, thank you for that proclaimation of praise and hope. God’s Word and praise are powerful weapons against the enemy and no matter how weak I feel in any moment, as long as I have breath, I will praise my Savior. He is mighty to save. Thanks for the prayers and support. Love and hugs!
Amen! Hope has a name: Jesus! If we have Jesus, we have hope now and forever.
Yes, Beckie! And “The Hope-Giver’s job never ends. He sent us Hope from heaven in the form of His precious Son. Now, He continues to fill us with joy and peace, and empowers us through the Holy Spirit until our hope abounds. We have access to hope any and every time we need it.” God bless!
Thank you, Karen, for sharing your hope during your own dark time. May God lead, bless, and assure you again and again through this time.
Appreciate that and you, Nancy. Each time we walk through a devastating time, God patiently waits for us to fully believe in the hope of His Son, then He fills us with supernatural joy and peace so abundant hope abounds in us.
Praying for you, Karen, as you go through your dark time. May God keep you filled with hope even as you pour out hope-filled words for others!
Thanks so much, Joanne! “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” Romans 15:4 ESV.
Our God is a god of hope, Karen. Thank you for this beautiful encouragement. He does give us a hope that will not “fade and fizzle”. He is with us always – even in our toughest times. Sending prayers your way.
Thanks for your prayers and comment, Laurie. Clinging to the God of hope. Amazing how we hope (verb) in God, and He is our hope (noun). He’s both hope in the verb and noun versions of the word!
This hits home with me because last year I chose “Hope” as my one word for 2019. I sometimes am afraid to get my hopes up for fear of being let down, but I knew that was not how God wanted me to live. Focusing on hope all year did help, but I still need reminders to choose hope. Thanks for sharing these scriptures and these insights, Karen. Raising your hallelujah is such an act of faithfulness!
Lisa, Hope is a great word for any year. And it’s espeically important to remember where our hope lies when hardships come our way, when our dreams go unmet, or when life seems all-around hopeless. So thankful hopeless never gets the last word!
I’ve been praying for you this week. It’s inspiring to see you clinging to His promises and the hope of scripture. You are sharing hope even as you are tempted to feel hopeless and your continuing testimony brings others closer to Jesus
Valerie, your comment brought tears to my eyes. Good tears. Even in what seems like a situation for hope to ever penetrate through, I want to keep believing it will and encouraging others, and letting God use my pain to help others. Clinging to the only sure hope in the darkness. Jesus.
Oh, I absolutely love this post, Karen! And I so needed to read it today. I honestly don’t know where I would be without hope, yet some days I struggle to find the joy and peace that accompany it. I’m so grateful that God waits patiently for me ‘to fully believe in the hope of His Son’ and that through His Spirit He empowers me to abound in hope and then supplies me with joy and peace. Thank you for this encouraging and inspiring post. (I love this line: ‘An empty tomb secured our eternal life in the future and our abundant life in the present.’ Such a beautiful summary of living a hope-filled life.)
So glad this encouraged you, Carlie. While the words were the words my soul and heart need, I prayed it would minister to others too. I’m grateful for the cross and an empty tomb that secures eternal life and abundant life and hope NOW!
May the God of hope fill Carlie with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit she may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
Amen! And when we have no hope, we can ask the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf!
Yes, The Holy Spirit makes hope abound (large amounts) in us when we belive as He fills us with joy and peace.
[…] there are countless and hearty yeses and the loudest Amens at the end of this path. As I continue to raise a hope-filled Hallelujah (last week’s post), I’m claiming a thousand Hallelujahs in my future! (2 Corinthians […]
[…] Read my blog post: How to Raise a Hope-filled Hallelujah. […]