Acts 27

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭20‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Faith in God enables us to have courage and hope at all times, regardless of our circumstances.  When the odds are stacked against us, we may be tempted to give in to fear and hopelessness, just as the men in this story did.  But staying connected to God and fully trusting Him, as Paul did, will ensure that we do not lose hope.  What is the connection between faith and hope?  “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬).  Always trusting God’s plan will allow us to remain hopeful that He has awesome things planned for us, both in this world and the next!  As followers of Christ, we need to make sure that we understand the difference between the world’s version of hope and God’s hope.  The world tends to view hope as mere optimism or wishful thinking. The biblical definition of hope is “confident expectation.” Hope is absolute assurance regarding things that are unclear and unknown, based on faith in God and what He can do. It is a fundamental component of our lives as believers: “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).  Without hope, life loses its meaning and in death there is no hope.  Those of us who have this trustful hope in God, have a general confidence in God’s protection and help and are free from fear and anxiety. So, stay close to God through your prayers, and make sure to place your trust in His plans and His care.  Doing so will fill you with a joyful hope that will help you navigate the seas of life, whether they are rough or smooth.