Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

As you can see, I have been talking about some women whose hope was in GOD when they were in some hard situations. Hannah was infertile and she had to trust GOD to give her a child; Queen Esther had to hope in GOD to give her favor with the King so she could have a hearing to save herself and her people; and Ruth, a young widow, who hoped in GOD to provide for her and her mother-in-law. She needed financial provision at least. But she also wanted the joy and warmth of a husband and family too. At first, she had to trust GOD. She had to stay alive! So she got out and hustled to get food for her and Naomi. In the end, it through that source that GOD provided her husband and eventually, a family.

Reading about these women encourages us to hope in GOD. They were each very different. Their needs were different too. But the resources of GOD were enough for each of them.

You may not be facing one of the issues these women did. The things that trouble you may be quite different, in fact. It makes no difference. GOD is still the same GOD they trusted in. He is still worth trusting for whatever the need is. He is fully sufficient.

Here is a passage that can build hope in your life. Why? Because it tells you about who GOD is, either directly or by inference. It also includes some of GOD’s promises as well.

Do you remember our working definition of hope?

Hope is confident expectation
based on the person and promises of GOD.

So, as you read through this passage, take a look and see which attributes of GOD you see (I gave some clues) and what promises you find. Of course, you can find many passages in the Bible to go through in the same way. If you write it down, which I recommend, you can see it all laid out. Sometimes, themes show up when you have it all listed in front of you…especially if you are visual. When it is laid out, often lights will turn on and you go, “Aha, this applies to this situation in my life and I never thought about it that way.”

So pray, and ask GOD to open your eyes to truth when you read this passage. Then go through it to see what shows up. GOD desires to change you way more than you desire it. He will make it clear.

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

Isaiah 43:1-7 ESV

May GOD enable you as you learn to hope in Him. Yes, I’m learning too!