Hope

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV).

Hope!

Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream”.

Recently I went along and saw the Watoto Childrens Choir from Uganda. They’ve been here before and many have seen them, but this was my first time. I was moved by their singing and dancing, but mostly I was moved by the story of these orphaned kids rescued from a hope-less life, into a hope-filled future. Even their vision statement is inspiring! Rescue a child, raise a leader, rebuild a nation!

Since 1994 the Watoto Children’s Choir, founded by Gary and Marilyn skinner, have traveled all around the world as advocates for the children of Africa. Audiences are inspired by their lively singing as they witness first hand the hope and joy the children have found in Jesus Christ.

Without the intervention of the Watoto Children’s Homes these kids would likely face a short hard cruel life! But someone had the compassion and love before they even met, and has done something about it to rescue, raise and rebuild. What a picture of the Gospel! If it wasn’t for the intervention of Someone before we’d even met, we’d be just the same – facing a hard, cruel, purpose-less life.

The subject of hope is one of my favorites. Hope is such an important ingredient for life today. With it people have scaled mountains, overcome enormous obstacles, conquered kingdoms, discovered discoveries, broken world records, won battles against impossible odds, married sweethearts, had babies, raised kids, risen to challenges, loved again, stood on the moon, graduated, started businesses, resurrected businesses, led churches, gone back to work, started new jobs, seen good come from impossibility, gone where no man has gone before!

Without Hope, people have not done, all of the above things. Without Hope, people have never overcome personal problems, broken through difficulties, had a go at something life building, discovered they can do more than they think, found God to be really God! Hope is the security we need today; it is a very powerful thing.

The word Hope in the New testament is the Greek word ELPIS (pronounced “el-pece”). It means to anticipate (usually with pleasure), expectation, confidence. It is not weak or negative, but strong, powerful, and RIGHT.

God’s unshakeable Word says, Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (NKJV). Hope is AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL! We know that the soul is the mind, the emotions and the will. Often our soul takes a roller-coaster ride through life, so there are times when it needs an anchor. This anchored soul is a bit like a sea anchor.

We need a Sea Anchor, (a) when we’re drifting on the tide. Things like temptations, worldly pressures, friends, and peer pressure. We need a Sea Anchor, (b) when the wind is against us. Getting side on can cause a ship to broach. Unfamiliar circumstances, crisis, difficulties. We need a Sea Anchor, (c) when you are in a full blown storm. A real disaster, tragedy, financial collapse, lost relationships jobs or family, failing health. A sea anchor stops you running out of control and broaching, it keeps you “pointed in the right direction”. Too many Christians get “off course” and before long they are miles away from where they should be. It all started with a simple and very small course deviation.

An anchored soul is held secure, is saved from anguish of soul (no hope), is less likely to sin with its mouth or actions, and is less likely to make wrong decisions. An anchored soul doesn’t stop the storm, but it knows storms will soon pass. An anchored soul knows that when the storm is passed, it is still on course!

The true source of hope is God! Romans 15:13 is a prayer, and it helps when in prayer, to address God in one of His Names, here “The God of Hope”. As Hope is “Confident expectation of good”, we see that God is a good God and He only wants the best for us. When bad stuff happens to us, we often say: “Why me Lord”, “Why did You do this to me”, “Why did You plan this for me.” When in actual fact God remains good and can never plan evil or bad for us; that is against His nature and character. He never plans bad things for us, but in His grace allows life to happen. (Remember we live in a sin-filled fallen world). But, God, as a good God, the God of Hope, turns stuff around and always brings good and growth out of bad things to those who know Him, trust Him and are obedient to Him.

In God and His Word are found Hope! As someone once said; “Life with Christ is an endless hope, without Him a hopeless end”. The writer of Psalms 119 (possible King David) knew something about Hope! Psalm 119:81 My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. (NKJV). Psalm 119:49 Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. (NKJV). Over the years I have come to be thankful for the things God “speaks” to me through His Word. Because through this Word, Hope is born.

He is not just “a” source of hope, or another source of hope, He is “THE” source of hope; He is the “God” of hope. Not only is He our Lord and Saviour, He is the total source off all; all the hope, the confident expectation we will ever need! When our lives are intimately connected to Him, we have all the hope, the security, the confidence, the peace, the joy, the grace we need. Many things have their place in encouraging us, inspiring us, bringing us confidence, but they will all fall short compared to the un-fail-ability of God’s hope. God is the foundation of our hope, and the builder of it.

So, like the Watoto kids (but perhaps few of us have been through things like they have) we too can “abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit” even though we may have come from be in or be facing things we have to trust God in and “believe” through. Let’s fill our Hope tank, regularly, by our relationship with God, and through reading His Word!