The definition of HOPE-
A feeling of expectation.
A feeling that something desired is possible.
To look forward to with a desire and confidence.
When I look at the definition of hope, I cannot help but be reminded of the scripture:
Jeremiah 29:11-
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Just before this text in the bible, we learn that God had lead the people into exile ( away from their home). I am sure there are people that were struggling with what was going on. But in the text God encouraged the people that He would bring them back to the place they knew. They did not know when, how, but that God had said that He would.
Read all of Jeremiah 29 this week and share your thoughts.
There are times in my life that the events unfolding seemed so hurtful. I was so discouraged and burdened. I was heartbroken, in the season of loss. But when I stop and look back, I see those painful situations were a part of God’s will for my life. The situation was to get me to the place of my future, which God had laid out. Hindsight, I was in HIS hands the whole time. I wasted a lot of time in despair, when I could have looked with expectation, that God had a design for my future.
Often in life when we are faced with hurtful burden after burden, we forget how to allow ourselves to feel expectation. The last lesson we learned to lay our burden down. We learned how important it is to allow the Lord to carry our burdens. Now we must replace those burdens with a HOPE
Hope brings about a bubble of expectancy. It brings about a Joy.
Romans 12:12 – Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
We have a great gift, this scripture points out the fact that we can rejoice in HOPE.
Sometimes we are afraid to boldly cry out to the Lord the very things that we hope for.
But remember, God offers us the gift of hope in His word. We do not hurt his feelings if we are hoping for something that may or may not be His will. We have the right as His children, to declare the hopes and desires within our heart.
To see your hopes, desires and dreams unfold, I feel it is very important to line our desires up with the will of God in our life first, over anything else. I am not talking about a desire to win the lottery or to be the next female astronaut. While those desires and hopes could bring about great things, those are not the plans that God may have for you. Get to know the Father intimately. Spend time with Him, and allow your desires to line up with His.
Proverbs 10:28 – The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Do you see how the expectation of the wicked shall perish? It is important that we remain righteous and hope for the things the Lord has for us. That hope shall be our gladness!!!
Ultimately the Lord wants us to find our HOPE in HIM.
Psalm 31:24
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Psalms 39:7 – And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee.
Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
We are women with hope, because the Holy Spirit lives and dwells within the children of God. The same power that conquered the grave lives within us.
Romans 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 5:2-5 – By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God
Mark 9:23 – Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him that believes.
Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but [when] the desire comes, [it is] a tree of life.
Psalms 71:14 – But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Psalms 71:5 – For you are my hope, O Lord GOD: my trust from my youth.
Psalms 43:5 – Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
Job 14:7-9 – At least there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. It’s roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil. Yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.
Psalms 38:15 – For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
Psalms 9:18 – For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall [not] perish for ever.
Lamentations 3:24 – The LORD [is] my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Galatians 5:5 – For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Lamentations 3:21 – This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Romans 5:4 – And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Joel 3:16 – The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Shaey anthony 