Scripture to Read: Psalm 31:24
Our Lord has us focused on “hope” this week. We can some- times face circumstances that cause us to think of “hope” as unattainable because of how we use the word in our English language. For instance, we’ll say, “I hope the weather is nice this weekend.” Or we’ll say, “I hope my team wins today.” When we use the word hope in either of these ways, we know, in our hearts, that we have absolutely zero control over the outcome of what we’ve said we hope will occur. The modern definition of hope is “to wish for, to expect, but without certainty of the fulfillment; to desire very much but with no real assurance of getting your desire.” The modern-day definition of hope is in- credibly empty and meaningless. The good news is that in God’s Word, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope,” hope is an indication of certainty. In Scripture, “hope” means “a strong and confident expectation.” So, biblical hope is similar to “trust” and a “confident expectation” of what God has promised us through His Word. We can only find true hope through our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. All that this world offers us (1 John 2:15–16) can never satisfy the deep desire we have for hope. Everyone is looking for hope, but few find it because they look to what this world offers them and not Christ. Just as the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 31:24, we must “Be strong and take courage,” and our hope must be in our Lord.
Challenge & Application
What are the differences when considering how the world defines hope and how God and His Word define hope?
How are you living in the hope you have in Christ each day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!