He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. Rom 4:20-21

Have you ever gotten tired waiting on something? Do you grow weary of the mundane repetitive processes that seem to delay a much needed or greatly desired outcome or reward? Delayed gratification is counter to many of our societal and cultural expectations. Too often we give up on a matter when things do not happen when expected and as expected. For some, delayed gratification may cause them to lose hope. The scripture passage reminds us to have faith in God’s promises and not lose hope. Hope for the child of God is through faith in the word of God. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). And we can know from the word of God that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Abraham is a good example of hope based on faith. God had promised to make Abraham into a great nation (Gen 12:2). Yet, when Abraham and his wife were old and they were well beyond childbearing, and God’s promise seemed to be delayed, “he staggered not…through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Unlike many of us, and unlike the changing circumstances we often live in, God is faithful (1 Cor 1:9) and true to His word. With time, Abraham wondered, “Lord God, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless” (Gen 15:2). If God was to keep His promise, He would need to do something soon. They couldn’t live forever. Like Abraham, we often do not understand God’s ways, and His timing, but friend, take confidence in His word and be “fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” Dear friend, are you abiding in God’s word? Does His word strengthen your faith in Him and give you hope? Has the word of God spoken to you to strengthen your faith and encourage your hope? Remind yourself of God’s promises, call out to Him about His promises, and remain hopeful in His word. Remember God’s promises and do not give up hope, for “God is faithful” (1 Cor 10:13) to what He has promised and is able to perform every word He promises. My friend don’t lose hope. Give glory to God and trust Him by faith in His word. Father thank You for Your love, Your faithfulness, and the promises of Your word. When time delays, help me not to grow weary, but to be “strong in faith” and not lose hope. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. 2 Thes 2:16

The world is full of pain and sorrow. People all around suffer, sorrow, and loose hope. There is fear all around. People fear the government, fear sickness, fear death, fear other people, and they even fear the unknown. Sad to say, but there is even fear in the church. Some fear they are not good enough. Not good enough for God, not good enough for heaven, and uncertain about God’s forgiveness and acceptance. Though fear is all around, God does not work through fear, but love and grace. The scripture passage reminds us of how incredible God’s love is for His children. He “hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.” How amazing is our God! He is so amazing that He demonstrated His love to the world, and He gave His only Son to pay the eternal sin debt for man in exchange for eternal life (Jn 3:16). What amazing love! He provides access into His presence through His Son, and He awaits His children to come to Him freely at any time (Heb 4:16). He has “given us everlasting consultation” which to say that God has given His children the comforting, assurance of His forgiveness, His love, and His acceptance forever. He has settled the payment for man’s sin and given a “good hope through grace” that we should no longer live slaves to sin in fear but “a son…an heir of God through Christ” (Gal 4:7). Dear friend, God gives real hope and strength to all His children to “comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thes 2:17). The “good hope” and comforting assurance for the child of God is the word of God. The word of God assures us of God’s forgiveness (Col 1:14), acceptance (Eph 1:6), and His love that we should live no longer in fear but in “good hope through grace.” My friend, God “hath given us everlasting consolation” through His Son, “our Lord Jesus Christ” that through Him “that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom 15:4). Our hope is in Jesus Christ, our “everlasting consolation.” No longer should we live by fear, but by “faith, hope, and love…but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13). Father thank You for Your love and the assurance of Your love through Your Son Jesus and the word of God. Help us to walk in Your favor and true to Your word. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Hope thou in God; For I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Ps 42:11

There are times in life when things are going well that we become optimistic and even hopeful. Praises and thanksgivings to God for His goodness seem to come more easily during these times. But what about times when things seem dreary, difficult, doubtful, dark, and light for the future is dim? What about the times when our emotions are downcast and disturbed? God seems so far away and the memory of former days in God’s presence seems so distant, almost like a fantasy. The scripture passage reminds us that “hope…in God” is a matter of faith, not feeling. Emotionally, the Psalmist felt he was alone and abandoned from God so that he cried out “Why have You forgotten me?” (Ps 42:9). He was honest about his feelings, but he looked beyond them to his faith and declared to himself, “Hope in God!” This is a struggle that we deal with at times. We wrestle to maintain hope in the Lord. Friend, I can assure you that hoping in God does not come naturally in difficult circumstances. There are plenty of emotional obstacles that so can easily overwhelm us when we face problems and sorrows, and even more so when other people question God’s existence or His goodness (Ps 42:3). The Psalmist knew that his downcast and disquieted spirit needed to be reminded of God’s faithfulness. His hope was not just a wish that his situation would change for the better, but a confident expectation in the faithfulness of God (Lam 3:23) and that God would save him. That’s the essence of biblical hope. A confident expectation that God will intervene. Hope in God is founded on the word of God, what the Bible says about God. Hope in God is knowing what the Bible says about God. And finally, hope in God is believing what the Bible says about God and trusting what you know through faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not see” (Heb 11:1). The substance of faith is the word of God. And “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). Dear friend, read the word of God, meditate, and think on the things that you read, and invite the Spirit of God to transform your thinking from feelings to faith. Your faith will grow and your hope in God will increase so as to proclaim, “the LORD is my portion…therefore will I hope in Him” (Lam 3:24). When troubles come and feelings become excited, “hope thou in God…who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Father thank You for Your love and the everlasting faithfulness of Your word. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.