We can get through just about anything if we have hope that better things are coming.  Hope keeps us going.  We look forward to the end of a bad experience and the beginning of something good.  Every mother understands this principle very clearly.  We all knew that labor and delivery would pass, albeit sometimes slowly, and in the end, we would hold a baby in our arms and the pain would be over.  Or perhaps you remember a thesis that hung over your head for years.  You did the research, the testing, the writing, and then defended your idea before a panel.  All this because you knew that after the work would come the reward of a degree and a gateway to good employment.  Maybe you or a loved one started counting the months, weeks, days until retirement and the freedom and relief it would bring.  The caveat is that as humans, we don’t know whether we will actually get our desired result.  We can’t be sure that we’ll live to see a happy outcome.  Nor is it certain that the outcome will live up to our expectations.  Actually, there is only one thing for certain in human existence.  Death.  But the good news is that there are truly wonderful things ahead for sure when we put our hope in God.  

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”  Psalm 33:18,20,22

“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.”  Psalm 119:114

“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”  Romans 15:4

I remember the day one week after my mother died.  I was sixteen and alone (in more ways than one) driving across the bridge toward the city near where I lived.  The city skyline stretched across my vision.  Then my eye fell on the outline of the hospital where my ‘mommie’ had recently died. My heart ached, but the thought that jumped into my head was, “I’m so glad she isn’t suffering anymore.  She’s home in Heaven and I wouldn’t wish her back even though I miss her so much.”  She loved Jesus and was now enjoying him face to face far away from pain and sorrow. Her hope had become reality. This gave me deep comfort and happiness.

“your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.. . this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  Colossians 1:5,27

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

“our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,”  2 Thessalonians 2:16

When I was in my early forties, my father, already compromised in mental capacity experienced a health crisis on the other side of the country.  (He had chosen not to live with us.)  I was churning inside over how to respond to the doctor’s question about treatment.  Knowing that he had lived his life apart from God made me want to prolong his life in hope of him having a change of heart and turning to Jesus.  The day after the doctor’s call dear Husband had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I know this probably won’t fit through your grid, but we both felt he had an angel visit.  He was busy working when a stranger entered his tool store.  The man very presumptuously went straight to Husband’s desk behind the counter and sat down with his feet (imagine the cheekiness!) on the desk.  Leaning back in confident ease, he began to ask Husband questions.  

Man: “What’s bothering you?”
Husband:  “My father-in-law’s doctor called last night and we don’t know what to tell him about treatment.”
Man:  “Do you really think that prolonging his life by three weeks will make a difference in his eternal destiny?”

That evening dear Husband relayed the whole experience to me. That conversation gave me perspective and peace.  My father had had a lifetime of people who loved him inviting him to put his trust in Jesus. But he had stubbornly refused his parents, his wife, his sister, and his daughter.  He had decided against God each day for a lifetime.  Indeed, a few more weeks were unlikely to change his mind.  (He did live some time after that and as far as I know, never changed his mind and never experienced the hope of heaven.)  

So, what do we hope for?  Who gives us hope?  There are many good things to hope for in this life.  We all hope to be loved and to give love.  We hope for happiness.  We hope for health.  Yet we may or may not actually get these things.  But if we put our hope on what God clearly promises us in this life and the next life, we will experience happiness, soul health, and love right now. To those who love him, he promises his love, his care, his presence, his power, and his good plans for us.  He’s on our side!  No matter what happens, he’ll bring us through- with confidence and joy!

“hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.”  Psalm 130:7

“But blessed (happy) are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”  Jeremiah 17:7

“we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.. . This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”  Hebrews 6:18-19

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:5

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”  Romans 12:12

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while…So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children.“  1 Peter 1:6,13-14