“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its new shoots will not fail. Its 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” Job 14:7-9 (NLT)
God has a heart for those who are hurting and takes special interest in those who have been through or are going though period of crises in their lives – could be health wise, marital, emotional, financial, career, etc. He cares for us because we are His children and His love for us cannot allow Him to take His eyes off us when we hurt.
Many people in this present generation live lives devoid of hope and assurance of a better tomorrow. No one can face the challenges of the day and expect success in the nearest or distant future without hope. Hope can be likened to an anchor and without it, no one can survive the troubles of daily living. While unbelievers might be missing out on the propelling power of hope, for a child of God, hope is the power that defies discouragement, despair and apathy. Our hope goes far beyond the level of the type of hope which the world offers because a child of God is able to hope against hope. Romans 4:18-20 (NLT) says “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be. Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God”.
The believers hope also goes beyond the realm of this world and it is called a glorious hope, a hope which cannot be understood by those without spiritual insight “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” Colossians 1:27 (NLT).
The seasons of life are filled with changes – winter, summer, fall, autumn and spring and each with there peculiarities. Some might be happy today and suddenly become sad the next day. Someone can be celebrated in one area of life today and the next may be swept aside with the coming of a new era. For example, people who were distressed, indebted and discontented came to David and he provided shelter for them and became their leader but when they lost their wives and children, the same people thought of stoning him but David encourage himself in the Lord I Samuel 22:2, I Samuel 30:6. While there is nothing anyone one of us can do to prevent the ups and downs of life, we can always turn to the word of God for succor, hope and strength “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5a-6
There is hope even in a seemingly hopeless situation and should you ever find yourself surrounded by despair and hopelessness, remember the Lord will come to your rescue by lifting up a standard against every contrary wind “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” Isaiah 59:19
