I’m thankful hope is so stubborn. If it wasn’t, I think I’d be a goner. In spite of how many times circumstances tempt me to throw in the towel, I find that entity of hope again popping to the surface and eventually taking over.

Oh, I’ve tried to resist. I’ve let discouraging thoughts smother the “noble, lovely and praiseworthy.” I’ve listened to the whispers of failure more times than I care to remember. But after all my rants and raves, hope stands there quietly waiting. It penetrates my protests with an undeniable assurance that “it’s gonna be okay.”

It’s a God thing, of course. Scripture compares hope to an anchor (Hebrews 6:19). It attaches us to what is really real. To what is solid. It causes hearts that would otherwise go adrift in life-crushing breakers to dig in to the truth.

Abraham learned this. Although he didn’t start out that way, he somehow arrived at that place which required him to “hope against hope.” He had been given big promises … promises accompanied by big delays. Delays that stretched him, pushed him to the edge, and most certainly disheartened him. But in spite of all the waffling doubts, he kept hoping. Hope bound him so tightly to God’s promises that it yielded the indomitable substance we call faith.

It will do the same for us. So go ahead. Give in to the stubbornness of hope.

Father, thank you for giving hope to your children in the midst of a hope-starved world. I pray we would cling to your word, and let hope and faith rise for your glory. Amen.

Go Deeper — Do a Bible word search on “Hope” and recognize how much God wants hope to be a rich part of our lives.



Tags: Promises of God Romans 4
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