Level up your Hope

The Oxford dictionary has defined hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, grounds for believing that something good may happen”. With all that the world is experiencing, it can sometimes feel like the end is here, and all the promises of God are never going to be seen. If I can take you back to New Year’s Day 2020, what was your hope level like concerning the year? I bet it was in the higher range! I am sure you were fired up for the year and ready to conquer the world. How hopeful are you about the rest of the year with everything happening now? Is your current vision for the year being clouded by what you hear on the news or by the promises of God?

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness, while I am here in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13 NLT

Be confident of this one thing; you will see the goodness of the Lord this year. God is a promise keeper, and He knows how to make way for His word concerning you to come to fruition. It’s no coincidence that last year, Sinach’s song, Way maker, which was released in 2016, was covered by several Christian worship leaders across the globe and sang in many churches all over the world. Now more than ever, it is speaking life into our current situation. It is good to be hopeful because God is busy at work when we are oblivious.

Way maker, Miracle worker , Promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who you are!
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working

I was reminded of a man named Simeon in the Bible. He appeared just once in the Bible but made a profound impact with his presence that strengthened the faith of the parents of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He had waited years for the Messiah. He never lost hope but was convinced that he would see the Saviour before his death as God had promised him. Being hopeful in this season is crucial and essential for our very existence. If we don’t want to be influenced by the gloomy news we are constantly hearing, we will have to decide to hold on to the faith we profess. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the confidence in the things we hope for and the evidence of things we cannot see. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross, with the hope that God will resurrect Him from the dead. He was certain that the cold shackles of death would not defeat Him. He was purposely sent on earth to die for the remission of our sins, and He was determined to stick to the end.

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Philippians 1:6 AMPC

When there seems to be no way, God wants you to remember His promises to you. He wants you to remember how far He has brought you and all that He has delivered you from. The virus has got no power to change your destiny, God has plans for you, and He wants your hope to be rekindled. Just as you typically wouldn’t put yourself in harm’s way, if you live with guidance on keeping yourself and your family safe from the infection, God will take care of the rest. You only have to do your part. Moses encouraged the Israelites when they got to the Red Sea only to believe because the Egyptians they see will not be seen any longer. God is also saying this to you, “the destruction you see around you now will not be seen any longer”. I guess it would have been easier and helpful if God gave us specific dates all this will end, but you and I know that His ways are not our ways. He only promises us a future and a good end.

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

Where fear abounds, let’s choose hope. Let’s choose God’s promised word over any other word. It does not mean that we will live in ignorance, but it does mean that when the predictor of doom come knocking on our door, we will keep our door shut and only allow God’s spoken word to influence our thoughts. Some will say this is wishful thinking or unrealistic but what we hope in is grounded and firmly founded in God’s goodness in times past. When the going gets tough, and you are at your wit with doubt and fear, be confident of this one thing; you will see the promises of God in this season. Let the Spirit of God remind you of His promise to you. You can keep your hope alive by your consistency in prayers and the word of God.

I pray the Lord surround you with positively minded and faith-filled people in this season. Amen!

May you be filled with the Fullness of God and the Power of His Love!