Faith is hope in action, and hope is one of the most significant tools for navigating life’s challenges with resilience and strength. What is hope, and where does it come from? Hope is the confident expectation of something or the desire for something to happen; it is the expectation that something will happen with confidence. To trust and believe something is what it claims to be. So, where does hope come from? Hope comes from God, as stated in 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.” Isn’t it reassuring to know that God gives us hope through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He wants us to abound in it, to overflow with hope?
The Role of Faith
So, what role does faith have in hope? Faith is the basis on which hope stands. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen(Hebrews 11:1). You must have faith to have hope; they go hand in hand. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love(1 Cor 13:13).
Therefore, we must ensure that we’re growing in our faith. The starting point to strengthen our faith is reading and studying the Bible, God’s word. To pray God’s word, you have to know God’s word so that you can speak God’s word in your prayers. Jude 1:20 states, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” To pray empowered prayers from the Holy Spirit, we must agree with the Spirit concerning God’s word. And the best way to do that is by growing in the knowledge of God’s word because prayer is the best way to strengthen our faith. So that when difficult times come, we can stand amid the trial.
Recognizing the Holy Spirit In Our Lives
A profound truth is that God is our steadfast source of strength. With His Word as our guide and the Holy Spirit as our constant helper and companion, we are never alone on this journey. The Bible encourages us with this truth by assuring us that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is with us forever. How can you recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? By believing and trusting God’s word. John 14:16…” and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”
Another way of recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is by seeing the traits or characteristics of the Spirit. For instance, when you feel a sense of peace during chaos, that’s the Holy Spirit comforting you. When you feel a surge of love for someone you don’t particularly like, that’s the Holy Spirit working in you. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).”
I hold onto hope daily because I’ve learned that my confidence is in Christ Jesus. He gave his life for me to live and to live with assurance and know that because He’s on the throne, I have a right to life. We have a right to live and live a victorious life! Hope is a must for me; it’s needed daily by all of us. As a parent or spouse, you understand that we must rely on our hope in Christ Jesus for ourselves and our families.
Whether sending our children off to school, navigating through traffic, or going on a family vacation, hope must sustain us. The world around us is changing rapidly, and with the rise of technology, many people are finding new ways to accomplish tasks—though not all of these changes are positive. However, while we can find enough reasons to throw our hands up and give up, we don’t. Instead, we have a greater expectation that things will change for the better because of our freedom and faith in Jesus Christ.
Finding Hope Through Trials
Our security lies in having confidence that God is with us, even during our most vulnerable moments. Having confidence during times of pain and hurt can be challenging. However, this confidence isn’t about convincing ourselves or engaging in mind games.
Because there will be challenges in life that are much greater than simply relying on “positive thinking.” “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(Isa 40:31).
In these challenging times, we must rely on the strength that only God can provide. It is important to be honest with ourselves about our troubles during these times, as the Lord already knows what we are facing. We don’t have to hide or deny the reality of our problems. He loves us unconditionally and has given us life, peace, and joy.
When it comes to life’s challenges and trials, they do not discriminate or take precedence due to your background. Regardless of our backgrounds and experiences, we will face challenging times as long as we live.
We’re reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God provides a way through every trial. Romans 8:18 inspires us to hold on to a hopeful perspective, reminding us that our current struggles are insignificant compared to the glory that awaits us. We express our hope by believing that what the Bible says is true. We rely on the truth of God’s word and the experiences of His consistent faithfulness.
II Corinthians 4:16-18 reassures us that while our outward circumstances change, our inner man, our spiritual man, receives new strength daily.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things not seen are eternal(2 Corinthians 4:17-18).”
We find joy and hope in knowing that every moment of hardship plays a greater role towards a more significant and eternal significance of praise. Let us focus on the unseen blessings that await us, empowering us to overcome our difficulties. In conclusion, there are three key ways to face life’s challenges: believing in God, relying on the strength provided by the Holy Spirit within us, and maintaining hope. We can especially find hope in the finished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Call To Action
Let us be encouraged to take the necessary steps to strengthen our faith by reading God’s Word, deepening our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and sharing God’s love with our world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be Encouraged
