Hope
Romans 4:18–21 (NLT)
“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”
This passage has always stirred me. Abraham would never see with his natural eyes the promise of God fulfilled. We know today that it has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus and in the nations of the earth having salvation offered to them, but Abraham never saw it. Yet the Bible is clear. Not only did Abraham remain hopeful, his faith grew stronger, not weaker, in the waiting.
I wish I could say that about my hope. At times in my life, I have hoped hard for something, only to give up after the timeline I had in mind passed by without anything happening. I had to come to the realization that maybe I had hoped in the wrong thing.
Most of us, if we were honest, hope in an outcome, not in God. Instead of placing our hope in God, we put it in our plans, our timing, and our vision. To say the least, when we do that, it makes our hope fragile instead of secure.
Abraham never seemed to do that. He simply believed what God said and left it up to God to do it. What a restful place to live, just simply trusting that God will do what He said He would do, but also knowing it will be on His timeline and not mine.
I think I came to this realization when my dad passed away. For all my life, my dad had shared the vision that God had given him for Opendoor, what God had spoken to his heart. For years, my dad believed what God had said, even though the evidence of what God had said was far from happening. My dad kept declaring it and holding fast to it, and then he passed away. What I came to know is that God, many times, will speak something to one generation that they are not meant to see the fullness of in this life.
So often we hope in things that matter to us but don’t really have eternal weight. This is when our hope must shift from the things of this world to the things that are eternal and will last. It’s great to have dreams and hopes for this life; but when those are my anchor, I’ve anchored my life in the wrong reality. We are eternal beings, and God wants our hope anchored in Him, not in the things of this world.
After all, He said:
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19–20 NLT
There is no greater treasure we have than where we place our hope.
Last thought: Faith occurs when we cease trying to do something by our own efforts and trust someone else to do it for us. Faith is the one attribute that is exactly opposite of trusting ourselves.
Abraham couldn’t make what God said happen. He had to trust God to do it. May we be the same. When we place our trust in God, our hope is secure, even in the hard times and hard places.
Prayer | Father, thank You for reminding me that true hope is not found in outcomes, timelines, or my own understanding—but in You alone. Forgive me for the times I’ve placed my hope in what I can see or control. Teach me to rest like Abraham did, trusting that You are faithful to do all You have promised in Your perfect time. Strengthen my faith when the waiting feels long, and anchor my heart in eternity, not in the temporary. May my life bring You glory as I choose to hope against all hope, believing that You are able. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”
This passage has always stirred me. Abraham would never see with his natural eyes the promise of God fulfilled. We know today that it has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus and in the nations of the earth having salvation offered to them, but Abraham never saw it. Yet the Bible is clear. Not only did Abraham remain hopeful, his faith grew stronger, not weaker, in the waiting.
I wish I could say that about my hope. At times in my life, I have hoped hard for something, only to give up after the timeline I had in mind passed by without anything happening. I had to come to the realization that maybe I had hoped in the wrong thing.
Most of us, if we were honest, hope in an outcome, not in God. Instead of placing our hope in God, we put it in our plans, our timing, and our vision. To say the least, when we do that, it makes our hope fragile instead of secure.
Abraham never seemed to do that. He simply believed what God said and left it up to God to do it. What a restful place to live, just simply trusting that God will do what He said He would do, but also knowing it will be on His timeline and not mine.
I think I came to this realization when my dad passed away. For all my life, my dad had shared the vision that God had given him for Opendoor, what God had spoken to his heart. For years, my dad believed what God had said, even though the evidence of what God had said was far from happening. My dad kept declaring it and holding fast to it, and then he passed away. What I came to know is that God, many times, will speak something to one generation that they are not meant to see the fullness of in this life.
So often we hope in things that matter to us but don’t really have eternal weight. This is when our hope must shift from the things of this world to the things that are eternal and will last. It’s great to have dreams and hopes for this life; but when those are my anchor, I’ve anchored my life in the wrong reality. We are eternal beings, and God wants our hope anchored in Him, not in the things of this world.
After all, He said:
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19–20 NLT
There is no greater treasure we have than where we place our hope.
Last thought: Faith occurs when we cease trying to do something by our own efforts and trust someone else to do it for us. Faith is the one attribute that is exactly opposite of trusting ourselves.
Abraham couldn’t make what God said happen. He had to trust God to do it. May we be the same. When we place our trust in God, our hope is secure, even in the hard times and hard places.
Prayer | Father, thank You for reminding me that true hope is not found in outcomes, timelines, or my own understanding—but in You alone. Forgive me for the times I’ve placed my hope in what I can see or control. Teach me to rest like Abraham did, trusting that You are faithful to do all You have promised in Your perfect time. Strengthen my faith when the waiting feels long, and anchor my heart in eternity, not in the temporary. May my life bring You glory as I choose to hope against all hope, believing that You are able. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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