Hope

Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭10:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So the poor have hope, And injustice shuts her mouth. ‭‭Job‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor. ‭‭Job‬ ‭11:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it? Job‬ ‭17:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.” Psalms‬ ‭3:2-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.  Psalms 37:18 WEB 

Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. Psalms 37:37 WEB

For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. Psalms 38:15 NKJV

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You.  Psalms 39:7 NLT

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭39:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:11 NIV

For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:74‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. Psalms 119:81 NKJV

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.  Psalms 131:3

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.  ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1:5-6, 9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7 NKJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, “Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the Lord our God.”  ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.  Habakkuk 1:5 NLT

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:43‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”  ‭‭John‬ ‭11:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:24-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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 NLT

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 1 Corinthians 2:9,10,13 NIV

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NKJV

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians‬ ‭15:54-58‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:7 NIV

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, 2 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.  Ephesians 1:18 NLT

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,  ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.  ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, ‭‭Titus‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.  ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:17-20‬ ‭NIV

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Hebrews 10:23 NLT

Hold fast to the hope you confess, for I am faithful to keep My promises. Hebrews 10:23

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ‭‭who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1:3-6 ‭NKJV‬‬

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”  ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. ‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NKJV‬

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1-4‬ ‭NKJV

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Devotionals

Here is a great video from Nick Vujicic about hope and overcoming life’s challenges:  Overcoming Hopelessness

What is man that You are mindful of him…? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5. Commentary by David Jeremiah. There are only two ways we humans can posture ourselves. Either we’re bent over like a question mark or we’re straight as an exclamation point. It depends on our view of God. Our lives only have meaning within the context of a Creator. His life, love, holiness, and ultimate ends—these are the things that give us hope and purpose. Reject God, and the answer to “Who am I?” doesn’t even require a single word. A simple question mark will do. Without Him, we feel we’re nothing but momentary sparks that flicker in meaninglessness and die into nothingness. There are no answers, only question marks. When our view of God is true and biblical, we’re as upright as an exclamation mark. We’re made in God’s image for His purposes, recipients of His peace and perpetual life through Jesus Christ who loved us and died for us. We stand firm with hope and purpose. We’re only able to understand who we are when we understand the Creator. Our secularized culture yields despair, but how different when we exclaim with Psalm 8: “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”

I have put my hope in Your word. Psalm 119:74. Our Source of Hope. Commentary by James Dobson. Encouragement can come from many sources, but the foundation of our strength and hope is always the unchangeable Word of God. For centuries, families have depended on the truth of Scripture to guide them in matters of faith, in the nuances of daily life, and during times of trouble. The Bible provides encouragement for the trials of today as we anticipate the joy of the hereafter. The apostle Paul, no stranger to adversity, said to the Roman church, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). David, one of the great heroes of the Bible, also faced many hardships (some of his own making). In these times of distress, he repeatedly turned to the Lord and His laws for deliverance: “May your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me” (Psalms 40:11–12). The Psalms, in fact, are wonderful examples of praise and inspiration for moments of fear, insecurity, or doubt. In our struggles as parents and as Christians, we would be wise to choose God’s Word as our first option for lifting our spirits. It contains the blessed hope that brings meaning to every thought and every moment. Before you say good night…What Bible verses are most encouraging to you? (See Psalms 46:1; 55:17; Luke 12:32; John 3:16.) Would it encourage your children if you helped them memorize Scripture? Prayer: Lord, we confess our deep and constant need for Your Word. Forgive us for depending on our own strength and wisdom—for seeking encouragement in so many shallow and unsatisfying ways. Draw us back into Scripture that sustains us in every challenge we face. Amen. 

The sun also rises, and the sun goes down … The wind whirls about continually … There is nothing new under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 1:5-6, 9. Commentary by David Jeremiah. Start to finish, it took Ernest Hemingway eight weeks to compose the draft of his novel about a group of decadent expatriates in Spain. He originally titled his book Fiesta, then changed it to The Lost Generation, a phrase coined by Gertrude Stein about those unhinged by World War I. But the title that stuck was from Ecclesiastes: The Sun Also Rises. Hemingway began his book by quoting this passage about the transient nature of the cycles of life. His point was that day after day the sun rises over succeeding generations of lost humans who seek to be brave in the approaching darkness. Ecclesiastes is a warning that if we reject God and live as if everything were “under the sun,” we’re a lost generation whose fiestas merely distract us from the futility of life. But when we develop God’s vision for our lives — His plan and purpose — everything changes. Our daily mood and morale soars. We can say, “The Son also rises, with healing in His wings.” And because He lives, we live also. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11, WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams. Promise: My plan for your future is filled with hope. When you think of your own future, how do you feel? Are you excited to think of what is ahead or does the thought of the future cause you to be anxious? With an uncertain economy, wars and rumors of wars, etc., it is easy to feel anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead. Yet in today’s promise, God says that your future is filled with hope. My favorite Bible translation of this verse comes from the NIV Bible… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I find it very reassuring to know that God has a plan for my future that is filled with hope. I don’t have to dread what’s coming because my heavenly Dad already has a plan for me. And of course we know that the ultimate hope is living in the light of God’s love forever! May the reality of today’s promise fill you with peace. May you know that while the future may be uncertain to you, it is not to God. He has a father’s heart toward you and has determined to fill your future with hope. Does this mean that there will be no bumps in the road? Certainly not. But we do know that all things will ultimately work together for our good as Paul declared in Romans 8:28 (WEB)… “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11. Commentary by David Jeremiah. It’s easy to understand why God spoke the words of Jeremiah 29:11 through the prophet to His people. Jeremiah wrote during the time when Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. The Jews could see nothing but disaster on the horizon; they wondered if all God’s covenant promises had become null and void. So God spoke through Jeremiah to tell the people that His thoughts were not evil toward them, that He had a hopeful future in mind. We may not look out our window and see invading Babylonians on the horizon, but we may see something that seems just as hopeless. We can cling to God’s promise to Israel because it is a reflection of His character. God is the God of hope and the future. He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). We are called in those moments to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart,” to “lean not on [our] own understanding,” and to “acknowledge Him” in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6). If you feel besieged by life today, lean on the God of peace — the God of hope and the future. The same God who has a plan for Israel has a plan for you. Trust that He will direct your path. 

…or there shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, “Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 31:6. Commentary by David Jeremiah. In the New Testament, believers tend to focus their hope on heaven rather than on earth. But in the Old Testament, believers’ hope was more terrestrial–their hope was focused on the Son of David coming to the City of David (Mount Zion) and ruling with righteousness and peace: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! . . . Behold, your King is coming to you” (Zechariah 9:9). New Testament Christians need to learn a lesson from our Old Testament forefathers. Earth is not a hopeless place. Even before heaven, Christ will return to earth and establish His kingdom for a thousand years on Mount Zion (Jerusalem) (Zechariah 14:4). There will be peace and security and hope for all who dwell on earth in those days because the Prince of Peace will become the King of Kings. The nations of the earth will see that Jesus is their hope and stream to Jerusalem to experience hope again (Zechariah 8:23). Marching to Zion may seem like madness to the world today; but when He is there, it will be normal. You don’t have to wait on the Second Coming or travel to Jerusalem to have hope. Our hope is in Him–now and forever. 

Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13:43, WEB. Commentary by  Barry Adams. Today’s Scripture reading comes right after Jesus explains one of the many parables that He told to the crowds. In the story, Jesus speaks of a field with good wheat which had some bad weeds sown into it by an enemy. After Jesus tells of the fate of the weeds, He shares what happens to the good wheat in the story which represents those who believe on His name. The righteous (that’s us!) will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Think about this for a moment. One day, when all is said and done and our earthly tents are no more, we will shine as bright as the brightest, sunniest day in the Kingdom of our heavenly Dad. My prayer is that each one of us would take this Bible promise to heart. The kingdom that is within us right now will be one day on full display and we will be shining with the glory of God in the midst of it. Even in the darkest of our present circumstances, may we all be encouraged by this hope. One day we will see Jesus face to face and we will be just like Him in every way…sunshine and all. Hallelujah! 

He is not here; for He is risen. —Matthew 28:6. Our Daily Bread, Commentary by Dave Branon. It was the day after my favorite team had just lost its final game and the dream of a championship was now over. It was cold out and a bit gloomy as I got in the car to go to work. None of this should have mattered much, but it was shaping up to be a blue Monday. But then a song came on the radio that transformed my perspective. It was Casting Crowns singing “Glorious Day.” “One day they led [Christ] up Calvary’s mountain, one day they nailed Him to die on a tree.” Nothing encouraging yet. “Suffering anguish, despised and rejected”—more bad news. But then the song describes the good news of Christ’s resurrection and His victory over death. Out of that worst of days—out of the noontime darkness on that Jerusalem hillside—has come the only true hope for mankind. Because Jesus “took the nails for me,” as the song says, “He carried my sins far away.” And one day He’s coming back—“O glorious day!” Perhaps today did not start out well for you. Maybe you face a host of trouble that threatens to turn this into a day of despair. Turn your attention to Jesus. Review what He did for you at Calvary and how He conquered death by His resurrection: “He is not here; for He is risen!” (Matt. 28:6). That can make any day a glorious day! Christ’s empty tomb fills us with hope. 

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. —Matthew 28:6. Our Daily Bread, Commentary by Anne Cetas. I sat quietly at the graveside of my father, waiting for the private family burial of my mother to begin. The funeral director carried the urn that held her ashes. My heart felt numb and my head was in a fog. How can I handle losing them both within just 3 months? In my grief I felt loss and loneliness and a little hopeless facing a future without them. Then the pastor read about another graveside. On the first day of the week, early in the morning, women went to Jesus’ tomb, carrying spices for His body (Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1). There they were startled to find an open and empty tomb—and an angel. “Do not be afraid,” he said to them (Matthew 28:5). They didn’t need to be afraid of the empty tomb or of the angel, because he had good news for them. Hope stirred when I heard the next words: “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (verse 6). Because Jesus had come back to life, death had been conquered! Jesus reminded His followers just a few days before His death: “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Even though we grieve at the loss of our loved ones, we find hope through the resurrection of Jesus and His promise that there is life after death. Thank You, Lord, for comfort and hope. What would we do without You? Your death and resurrection provide all we need for this life and the next. Because He lives, we live. 

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Mark 9:2-3. Commentary by Mike MacIntosh. Jesus suffered many terrible things — even dying on a cross. He warned His disciples of the unthinkable pain He would suffer, but they just didn’t understand. How could they? Two thousand years later, we still have trouble wrapping our minds around the pain He endured, all for our sake. But He suffered for a reason. And even if the disciples didn’t understand what would happen, Jesus wanted them to understand why. Six days after telling them about His forthcoming crucifixion, Jesus led some of His disciples up to a mountaintop, where His clothes began to shine like snow. If you’ve ever seen the sun’s light reflected off snow, you know it’s bright; it hurts your eyes. Jesus was transfigured on that mountaintop, shining with a brilliance that must have startled and amazed the disciples. What a sight it must have been! And though it was only a glimpse of what was to come — He would be resurrected, completely transfigured, and sit at the right hand of the Father in heaven — it was a profound foreshadowing. Jesus was making a point. After suffering comes ultimate change. As believers, we have the ultimate hope that although we suffer and endure now, a time is coming when Jesus Christ will put a stop to all the hatred, all the evil, and all the suffering. And we who have put our faith in Him will be changed. Sure, we will suffer now, just as He suffered. Yes, we will be rejected and feel the pain of rejection. But thankfully it won’t last forever (though sometimes it feels that way). Jesus is showing us that in Him, no matter how good or bad our circumstances, we have a perfect hope in Him. We will soon be changed! 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” —John 11:25. Commentary by Greg Laurie. Easter brings hope: Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed. Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final. That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross. They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made. They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35). Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God’s original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die. But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart. But standing there at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it. If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God. Easter brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death. Summary sentence: The resurrection of Jesus gives us the greatest hope! 

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. -Romans 5:5. Have You Been Dis-Appointed? Commentary by David Jeremiah. The word “disappoint” comes from an old French word meaning to remove someone from office–to dis–appoint one who had been previously appointed to a position. Those who are fired or “dis-appointed” suffer crestfallen feelings of discouragement. Hence our English word disappointment. This is one of the most difficult emotions to reconcile. We all know how it feels to lose a game, fail at a task, be rejected in a relationship, miss an opportunity, or lose a job. The Bible says that hope deferred (disappointment) makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). But we’re also told God will never disappoint us and that His love never fails. According to Romans 5, we can glory in tribulation because tribulation produces perseverance, which leads to character, which develops hope–and God’s hope never disappoints because the Holy Spirit sheds His love abroad in our hearts. Someone once said “disappointments” are “His appointments.” He has a way of working all to our good. If you’re struggling with disappointment today, claim the love of God and the promise of Romans 5:5. 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57. Commentary by David Jeremiah. A well-known bumper sticker has been around for a few years that reads, “Life Is Hard. Then You Die.” That bumper sticker might be found on a car driven by a nihilist (“there is no purpose”), a cynic (“life is a joke”), an existentialist (“life is absurd”), or a humanist (“it’s every man for himself”). These world views agree: Death is unavoidable in the end, so what’s the point? Death is the great leveler — it is appointed unto man once to die (Hebrews 9:27). Without a solution for the problem of death, life can appear to be an exercise in futility. But that is the great message of the Christian Gospel! God has given us victory over our ultimate death through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, without Christ’s resurrection that provides for ours, Paul would agree with the bumper sticker: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). But because of the Gospel, we can change the bumper sticker to read, “Life Is Hard. Then We Die and Live Forever!” Is that your hope today? If so, thank God for the victory that is yours in Christ. 

For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams. Promise: When your body fails, you have an eternal home waiting for you. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Apostle Paul tells us that faith, hope and love remain. In the last few devotionals, I have been talking a lot about love and faith. Today I want to talk about hope. If we have what we hope for, we no longer need to hope for it. There are some promises that God has made to us that we have not yet seen the fulfillment of. Today is one of those promises. It is comforting to know that one day, when our body fails, we will have an eternal house in heaven that will last forever. This is a promise that we can hold onto with all our hearts. The eternal home that is waiting for us will not be built with human hands, but will be built by God Himself…and we will be a pillar in His house. On that day, we will no longer experience suffering or loss. Pain or disease will be gone, for we will be with God and He will be with us. May today’s promise bring great comfort to us when we think of those in the faith who have gone before us. May we also be filled with hope ourselves knowing that we have an eternal home waiting for us too! 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. —Ephesians 1:7 NKJV. Commentary by Philip Yancey. A prisoner who survived 14 years in a Cuban jail told how he kept his spirits up and his hope alive: “I had no window in my cell, and so I mentally constructed one on the door. I ‘saw’ in my mind a beautiful scene from the mountains, with water tumbling down a ravine over rocks. It became so real to me that I would visualize it without effort every time I looked at the cell door.” Ironically, some of the most hopeful books of the Bible—Philippians, Colossians, and Ephesians—come out of Paul’s house arrest in Rome. The letter to the Ephesians gives a hint as to what the apostle Paul saw when he thought about life beyond his place of confinement. First he saw the spiritual growth in the churches he left behind. This book opens with a burst of thanksgiving for the vitality of the Ephesian church (Ephesians 1:15-16). Then he sought to open the eyes of their hearts to even more exalted sights: the “exceeding riches” of God’s grace (2:7). When Paul cranks up the volume to express God’s plan of love, not one low, mournful note sneaks in.  If you feel discouraged or question whether the Christian life is worth it, Ephesians proves to be a great tonic. It prescribes the riches in Christ available to all. Heavenly Father, thank You for the staggering good news of the riches of Your infinite grace. Thank You for the encouragement and hope we find in Ephesians. Amen. No one is hopeless whose hope is in God and His Word. 

To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19. Commentary by David Jeremiah. When it’s Super Bowl Sunday, you’re probably hoping for a particular team to win. But whoever your favorite team is, no matter the sport, winning is never certain–no matter how loud you yell. There’s one game, though, that we’re assured of winning–if we have trusted Christ for our salvation. Once we’re born again into God’s family, there’s a hope given to us that will never disappoint as we engage in the game of life. Objectively we know that once we’re justified in Christ, we’re secure in Him and His plan for our lives. But knowing that we’re human and prone to insecurity, God goes one step further to cement our hope in Him by lavishly pouring out His love in us through His Holy Spirit. This testimony of God’s love allows Him to implant evidence in our inner beings that we belong to Him and that we love Him because He first loved us. Do you daily live with confidence in God’s testimony of love for you? Can you prove it to those around you by your attitude of hopeful living? We’ve read the back of the Book and we know who wins! Live with confidence! 

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4. Commentary by Mike MacIntosh. As I was studying the book of 1 Thessalonians not too long ago, the Holy Spirit showed me something I had not seen before, and that is the relationship between patience and hope. As I read through this passage, it dawned on me so clearly that it takes patience when you are hoping for something, and it takes hope to be patient; they really are linked together. For those of you in college, most of you are there in hopes of receiving a diploma. But before you will receive that diploma it will take years of patiently taking classes, doing homework, writing papers, and attending lectures. If you lose that hope of one day receiving a diploma, you will no longer patiently endure the work that is needed to achieve the diploma. In a similar manner, if you lose the patience to attend the lectures, write the papers, and do the homework, you will have no hope of receiving that diploma. Hope provides the reason to be patient and patience is that pathway whereby we achieve hope. These two words, patience and hope, are linked together and by them we are able to triumph and walk victoriously, as hope is the anchor to our soul and patience has its perfect work in us. So today if you are losing patience, get your eyes focused back on your hope. Or if you have lost a bit of hope, remember that patience is needed to reach that hope. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19a). My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). 

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Commentary by Mike MacIntosh. You are experiencing your life right now, but in a moment — in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52) — you’re going to be with the Lord. No matter what struggles or pain you may be facing, Paul says that as Christians who have put our faith in Jesus Christ, we have hope, and that hope is the promise of heaven. We will be face to face with God in His presence. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says that when we’re absent from the body, we’re present with the Lord. You see, you are more than just bones and decaying flesh; you are body, soul, and spirit — and your body is temporal. When you die, or when the Lord “descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” to return for His church (1 Thessalonians 4:16), you will leave the body and be given a new body. “And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17b). Wow, I can see my mom up there, dancing already. She’s got the new body; she’s happy, she’s a kid. I can see my grandson, Ryder, who died as an infant; just a little guy, probably up there running and jumping and talking. But he’s got a new body, and he’s just perfect before Jesus Christ. Knowing that the Lord is coming back, knowing that we’re going to see all those people again, and knowing that this body is temporal, we have hope! When problems arise, when we face temptations, when we feel overwhelmed — we can “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2a). Today, we can live in the hope of joining Him. We can persevere because He has given us hope. To live with hope is to live with expectancy and anticipation. It means living with confidence. And it means living with faith. Not faith or confidence in ourselves, but in the One who has given us hope, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dig deeply into what the Apostle Paul is saying here. Trust in the Lord that He’s coming back. “Comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). And remember that our true comfort is just around the corner: being in the presence of the Lord and in perfect fellowship with all the saints. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). 

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.  Hebrews 6:19. Commentary by David Jeremiah. Medical researchers often make use of a placebo — a “sugar pill” — when doing controlled studies of the impact of medicines. Subjects who receive the placebo sometimes exhibit a “mind over matter” improvement; the very thought that they are getting something tangible provides a boost to their response. Critics of Christianity often accuse believers of using an intangible idea like hope as a placebo to give them a boost in difficult times. And they have a point: Hope is intangible; it occupies no physical space; it can’t be proven by science. Almost anticipating those objections, the author of Hebrews compared intangible hope to a tangible object — a ship’s anchor. Hope, the writer says, is “both sure and steadfast,” exactly as we think of a heavy anchor that keeps a ship from drifting. Hope may be intangible but its effects are not. Even when the winds blow in the present, keeping hope fixed on Christ’s presence keeps us firmly in place. Hope, like faith, is only as good as its object. The Christian’s hope is in an object, an anchor, named Jesus. If you find yourself drifting, make sure your connection to Him is strong. 

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Hebrews 6:19a Commentary by David Jeremiah. Priscilla Owens was a schoolteacher in Baltimore, Maryland, and a faithful church worker. As time allowed she also composed Christian hymns. We know her as the author of the song, “Will Your Anchor Hold?” The chorus says, “We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll.” Priscilla also wrote the popular hymn that says: “We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves! Jesus saves!” Jesus Himself is the only hope for the future of the world, for the future of the nation of Israel, and for those who comprise the final generations of history. He’s also our only hope today. The Bible says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Here’s the great thing. When we hear the joyful sound and Jesus saves us, we discover we have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll. Don’t fear the billows today; rejoice in the blessings. 

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23 KJV. Commentary by Barry Adams. Promise: Hold fast to the hope you confess, for I am faithful to keep My promises. May God give us the strength today to hold fast to the hope that we confess and not give up. Having the confidence that God is who He says He is and we are who He says we are, let us not waver in our faith so that we can keep running our race (Hebrews 12:1-2). It is so important that we keep believing that the One who has made every promise to us is forever faithful. Though we may go through times of loss and discouragement, those times do not change the truth of who God really is. Though clouds may sometimes block the sunshine so that we may not always feel its warmth, we can be assured that the sun is always shining. As you reflect on the past year and commit the upcoming year into the hands of your loving God and Father, may your heart be filled with hope and your mind filled with peace, for our God is the ultimate promise keeper. 1 Corinthians 1:20 – For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (NIV) So don’t give up, hold fast to the hope that you profess, for our God is faithful to keep His promises! 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15. Commentary by David Jeremiah. Always… be ready… to give… a defense… to everyone. Read that again and emphasize every word. When we think of giving, we usually think of giving our money or perhaps our time. But giving is a continual part of the Christian’s DNA, and it comes naturally to give from all our resources including our hope and faith. Think of what Peter was implying. First, our lives should be so radiant that others notice the hope within us. Second, when others come to a point of trouble in their lives, during those moments our hope will appear in sharp contrast to their distress or despair. Third, at such times they’re likely to ask us what we have that they don’t. Fourth, that’s our cue to explain our faith, doing so with an attitude of sweetness and meekness. Why not turn this verse into a prayer: Lord, as I sanctify You in my heart, may I always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks me a reason for the hope I have. And Lord, bring them on to me! 

He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21, WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams. Promise: Those who overcome will sit with My Son on His throne. The atonement that we have in Christ is absolutely amazing! When Jesus died on the cross, He exchanged His life for our life, so that His Father could become our Father (John 20:17). In today’s promise, we read the promise that Jesus tells the church at Laodicea… That those who overcome will sit with Him on His throne just as He sits with Father on His Father’s throne. In Ephesians 2:6, the Amplified Bible actually tells us that our God and Father has given us joint seating with Jesus: “And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)”. May the Holy Spirit give us eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in today’s promise. May we know the height and depth of our glorious inheritance in Jesus Christ and the many promises that are ours because of His sacrifice for us. One day, we will sit with Jesus on His throne. Hallelujah! What a day that will be! 

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Quotes

“If you’ll quit moaning and crying, I’ll use the things to make you into someone I can use in the lives of others to show them that no matter where they’ve been, no matter how deep the hole, no matter how painful the trial, there’s hope. There is victory.” – Kay Arthur

“Hope is a waking dream.” – Augustine

“If the church is to impress the world with the deathless hope of the everlasting Gospel, she must be animated by that hope herself.” – F. W. Boreham

“Hope is never ill when faith is well.” – John Bunyan 

“True faith is ever connected with hope.”  – John Calvin

“The word Hope I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.” – John Calvin

“Where there is no vision there is no hope.” – George Washington Carver

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever; One day He’s coming—O glorious day! – Casting Crowns, “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”

“To live without hope is to cease to live.” Fyodor Dostoevsky

“There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.”  – F. W. Faber

“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet.” – Anne Frank

Hope is one of the principal springs that keep mankind in motion.” – Thomas Fuller

“It is always darkest just before the day dawneth.” – Thomas Fuller

“If it were not for hopes, the heart would break.” – Thomas Fuller

“God’s mercy and grace give me hope — for myself, and for our world.” – Billy Graham

“He that lives in hope dances without music.” – George Herbert

“Hope is the poor man’s bread.” – George Herbert

“Our only boast, our only confidence, our only hope must be in Christ.” – R. Kent Hughes

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Jesus gives us hope because He keeps us company, has a vision and knows the way we should go.” – Max Lucado

“A world without God has no hope.” – Anonymous Author

“Hope is a powerful tool against anything the enemy tries to throw your way.” – Anonymous Author

“The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.” – John Newton

“Let’s keep our chins up and our knees down — we’re on the victory side!” – Alan Redpath

“Hope, from a biblical perspective, is a future certainty grounded in a present reality.” – Victor Shepherd

“Without Christ there is no hope.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Do not look to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Those who do not hope cannot wait; but if we hope for that which we see not, then we do with patience wait for it.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand.”  – Jennie Bain Wilson, hymnist

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