Hope

” But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, 
       on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death 
       and keep them alive in famine.”
-Psalm 33:18-19
 

“O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, 
       for with the LORD is unfailing love 
       and with him is full redemption.”
– Psalm 130:7
 

“but those who hope in the LORD 
       will renew their strength. 
       They will soar on wings like eagles; 
       they will run and not grow weary, 
       they will walk and not be faint.”
– Isaiah 40:31

“… Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
– Isaiah 49:23

 

So I was reading through some of the Psalms, and this “Hope in the Lord” started to stick out to me. It’s in their more times than I have listed. This intrigued me, so I looked it up and found it all over the place.

When I first read this I kind of glossed over it. I think I was just reading it as “Put your faith in the Lord.” I got that, most of the time. But then I realized. . . there is a very significant distinction between hope and just having faith. I can have faith in the Lord all day. I believe that God exists, that he loves me, and that he sent his son Jesus to die and save me from my brokenness. 
But when it comes to hardships, burdens, and struggles, faith needs more. I’ll say “God, I need this; Bless me indeed,” and I will have faith that God is there and can hear me. All too often, however, I subconsciously doubt. I have faith that God hears my prayer, but I am very pessimistic about the outcomes and what God will actually do. 

“Hope in the Lord” means something a little different, I think. It encompasses faith, but asks for more. It asks for trust, and for optimism. It says “God, I have faith that you hear my prayer, and can do whatever you want, and I believe that you can do this for me.” I mean. . . hope is something we do anyway. We all know what it is to hope. But I feel like I tend to separate my hope from my prayers most of the time.
It’ not that I don’t have the faith. I do. It’s just that I don’t have the hope.

Basically I’m just here to encourage hope in the Lord today. The two Psalms above also mention God’s “Unfailing Love.” Unfailing. Never ending. That’s bold. He loves us. He wants the best for us. Psalm 115:3 says “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases him.” If he loves us so much, and can do whatever he wants, why should we doubt?
My favorite line, I believe, is from Isaiah 49:23. “… those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” How comforting is that? 

Let us hope in the Lord. Not be faithful skeptics of His great works.
You won’t be disappointed.

 

 

On another note, I stumbled upon a blog from a church in Los Angeles. The link is over to the right. You may enjoy it.