“When You Can’t Find Hope” by Pastor Tim Burt

Romans 15:4 (NLT) “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us HOPE and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises”

There have been a few times over the course of my life where I was in a bleak situation that seemed to only spiral downward. In each of those cases, I was pushed almost to the place of no hope. I should have never allowed myself to feel like that no matter how bad things got. In Jesus there is always hope!

The spark of hope is the beginning of hope. If you could not find initial hope, you would then have no hope. If you have no hope you are hopeless. If you are hopeless, you’ll cast off the very faith in God that would have saved you again and again.

If the devil had his way, he’d keep you hopeless at all times. He’d beat you down in your circumstances. He’d beat you down in your walk with God trying to make you feel shallow, disgusting, or lost. He’d beat you down in your imagination trying to strip any life and joy from it. He’d work to drive you to hopelessness. Why? When you allow yourself to become hopeless, he’s got you right where he wants you. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy (literally a refreshing that makes you feel alive again!) The devil is the author of death and destruction – the stealer of life. Jesus is the giver of abundant life!

People are pushed by the devil into negative circumstances, in self disgust, and in absolute mental hopelessness, every day – by the boat loads. He tries to pluck every last image of hope from our heart like plucking petals off a flower. He reminds you of every failure – never successes. He points out every flaw – not the transformations of good that God has done in you. He paints the picture of bleakness and hopelessness – never the promise of God’s Word. Jesus taught us through His Word how to handle this enemy of your soul. Math 8:16 says that “Jesus would cast out devils with His Word…”.

You do the same. Rise up and cast him out of your life now! Jesus would say to the devils, “Get out, be gone, I rebuke you.” You do the same in Jesus name!

Jesus always offers hope! His love toward you is tender. He is called the “Blessed Hope.” Jesus is the spark of hope that leads to full blown hope that will cause faith to rise in your heart, then momentum, and ultimately, God’s deliverance in your life. So, when you are feeling hopeless – it’s time to get that spark of hope.

First we need to understand hope. Romans 8:24-25 gives us insight. “…But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Then realize that Jesus, our “Blessed Hope” is calling out to you saying “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24

He cries out to let us know He has got His eye – which means His care – upon us saying, “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who reverence Him, on those whose HOPE is in His unfailing love – His unfailing mercy.” Psalm 33:18

Today’s Fresh Manna verse teaches and reminds us we are those who can have hope! They were written for that very purpose – to give and continually rekindle our hope in a loving God and Savior Jesus Christ whose mercy is greater than your ability to live perfectly right before Him. It says, “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us HOPE and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises.”

Whether you have fallen down and blown it or you’ve just been beaten up in circumstance or in imagination by the devil, YOU ARE NOT HOPELESS and God has not abandoned you! Let these verses of hope spark your hope in the “Blessed Hope” – Jesus who loves you so that you may trust, have faith, draw courage, and see the hand of God fulfill your hope and faith’s desire again and again!

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/