For YOU are my hope
O LORD GOD
YOU are my confidence from my youth
Psalm 71:5

Throughout our lifetimes situations or circumstances will come up where we periodically struggle with feeling hopeless, as there seems to be no solution. This hopeless feeling is a strong indicator of your level of trust in GOD for what is beyond your control. You can be like Abraham and hope against hope (to have hope when it seems baseless―Rom 4:18), or you can be like the nation of Israel who declared in Ezekiel 37:11, “our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.”

When our Beloved LORD GOD told Abraham HE would give him a son with his wife Sarah, he fell on his face and laughed because he was 100 years old and Sarah who had been barren all her life (Gen 11:30) was 90 years old (Gen 17:15-17). But his laughing did not stop his trusting GOD to do what HE promised (Rom 4:19-22). And our faithful GOD did indeed give him and his wife Sarah a son (Gen 21:1-5).

When one continues to focus on their hopeless situation, instead of focusing on the goodness of GOD, their hopeless feeling will turn into a state of hopelessness, accompanied by depression. In Ezekiel 37:1-14, our Beloved LORD GOD teaches us hopelessness is a grave (Eze 37:12-13), a dry and weary place (Psa 63:1, Psa 143:6) without water or the presence of GOD (Eze 37:1-2, Jer 2:13, Jhn 4:10-14, Jhn 7:37-38). And yet in this same passage of Scripture, HE encourages those without hope, that what is impossible for them is possible with HIM (Mrk 10:27). By HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT, HE can restore life (Eze 37:3-10, Eze 37:14, Luk 7:12-17, Jhn 11:38-44).

If you are at a place in your life where you feel like the prophet Jeremiah “my soul has been rejected from peace, I have forgotten happiness. So I say, “my strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD” (Lam 3:17-18). Then strengthen yourself in The LORD as King David did in the midst of his crisis (1 Sam 30:6). Begin by reminding yourself just WHO our Beloved LORD GOD is (Lam 3:19-26), and all that HE has done for you (Psa 103:2-5, Rom 5:8). Then comfort yourself through HIS WORD, which is the consolations of your soul (Psa 94:17-19), do a word study on “hope.” Here are some Scriptures to help you begin:

Psalm 33:18-22
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear HIM, on those who hope for HIS lovingkindness. To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for The LORD; HE is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in HIM, because we trust in HIS holy name. Let YOUR lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have hoped in YOU.

Psalm 38:15
For I hope in YOU, O LORD; YOU will answer, O LORD my GOD.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in GOD, for I shall yet praise HIM. The help of my countenance and my GOD.

As you strengthen yourself in The WORD, your soul will be revived (Psa 119:25, Psa 143:11) and refreshing will come (Jer 31:25, Act 3:19). It is then you will understand why HE is our hope (Psa 71:5), and our hope in HIM is literally the anchor of our soul (Heb 6:19, Psa 62:5-6).

In closing, a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST (Jhn 14:6) is the only way to know The GOD of hope (Rom 15:13). Our hope in GOD comes through HIM (1 Tim 1:1)

But YOU, O LORD, are a shield about me,
My glory, and The ONE WHO lifts my head.
Psalm 3:3

There are times when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (a place in your life of deep shadows and gloom, a place where you can see no hope and no future), that we must stop and strengthen ourselves in The LORD our GOD.

What do we mean by “strengthen ourselves in The LORD our GOD”? We mean to stop and remember WHO our Beloved LORD GOD is ― a compassionate GOD (Deu 4:31), WHO keeps HIS eyes on us (Psa 33:18). And we must allow HIS WORD to strengthen our soul (Psa 119:28).

If you are currently in a place in your life where you feel overwhelmed by the circumstances in your life, remember Psalms 23:4 ― even when you are walking through the darkest places of your life, our Beloved LORD GOD is with you, HE is close by you.

Know that our Beloved LORD GOD is faithful, and even if you can’t sense HIS presence in the midst of your circumstances (Job 23:8-10), cling to HIS trustworthy WORDS. HE is with you, close beside you (Psa 23:4); HE will never desert you nor ever forsake you (Heb 13:5-6); HE is with you always (Mat 28:20).

If you do not have a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST, then you are truly in a place of little to no hope. Very little hope in this life, and no hope in the next life. Please take the next moment to quietly invite JESUS CHRIST into your life. HE has been patiently waiting for your invitation. HE loves you so much, HE chose to give HIS life for you; and HE desires to give you a future and a hope. If you made this decision please contact us, so we can pray with you, encourage you and strengthen you.

If you have a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST, then our Beloved LORD GOD is your hope. And your hope can never be gone, because HE will never be gone. When you walk with The LORD GOD because you honor and revere (fear) HIM, you will surely have a future, and your hope will not be cut off (Pro 23:17-18).

 Ps 31:24

Be strong and let your heart take courage,

All you who hope in The LORD.

 

Ps 33:18-22

Behold, the eye of The LORD is on those who fear HIM,

On those who hope for HIS loving kindness,

To deliver their soul from death

And to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for The LORD;

HE is our help and our shield.

For our heart rejoices in HIM,

Because we trust in HIS holy name.

Let YOUR loving kindness, O LORD, be upon us,

According as we have hoped in YOU.

 

Ps 38:15

For I hope in YOU, O LORD;

YOU will answer, O LORD my GOD.

 

Ps 39:7

“And now, LORD, for what do I wait?

My hope is in YOU.

 

Ps 42:5

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in GOD, for I shall again praise HIM

For the help of HIS presence.

 

Ps 62:5-6

My soul, wait in silence for GOD only,

For my hope is from HIM.

HE only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

 

Ps 71:5

For YOU are my hope;

O LORD GOD, YOU are my confidence from my youth.

 

Ps 130:5-6

I wait for The LORD, my soul does wait,

And in HIS WORD do I hope.

My soul waits for The LORD

More than the watchmen for the morning;

Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

 

Lam 3:21-26

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The LORD’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is YOUR faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I have hope in HIM.”

The LORD is good to those who wait for HIM,

To the person who seeks HIM.

It is good that he waits silently

For the salvation of The LORD.