Hope in God

Have you ever got to a point in your life where an unwelcome or unpleasant change of circumstances made you feel hopeless and helpless, and perhaps God has abandoned you? These situations do occur. Trials and burdens of various kinds can oppress and distress us  at times. In such circumstances, one may be tempted to throw up one’s hands in despair and wonder; why me? I can’t take it anymore. Where is God when I need Him most? Suffice it to say, it is human to feel that way. However, from God’s perspective, it is not the right way to think or act.

Let’s turn to the Scriptures for answers. First Peter 4:12,13 tells us “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

It must be taken into account that being a Christian does not in any way make us exempt or immune from trials and tribulations of various kinds, which are sure to come. Peter says we shouldn’t be surprised at the fiery trial that comes to test you. Note: “to test you.” This means God allows it to happen for His purposes. 

Consider Job, of whom the Scripture declares, “was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1). Yet, in spite of this, Job suffered much more than many of us will ever experience. Job even lost his children and his wealth. 

How did Job respond? He “arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:20-22). 

How inspiring for believers today. In the Christian experience there will be times of great joy and wonderful blessings. There will also be times when the great and wonderful blessings are upended by uncertainty and difficult situations. How will we react then?

Realistically, the Christian life is characterized by hope that’s in the “God of hope.” In his prayer for the Christians at Rome, Paul prayed, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13). We can conclude that hope is a common “denominator” in the Christian life and service, which also serves to unite us in the bond of fellowship with each other. 

Hope is the anticipation and the desire or feeling for a certain thing to take place. The Bible says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1). 

Paul says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer,” (Romans 12:12). Irrespective of our situation or circumstance, the key is to rejoice in hope. And, at the same time, do not neglect to pray. John Piper makes a very insightful comment on Romans 12:12.

He says, “So, building on Romans 12:12 and the rest of the New Testament together, the Christian life works like this: Affliction is normal in this fallen world (1 Peter 4:12; Romans 8:23). Christ has come and carried our sin and sorrows to the cross and into the grave, and left them there, and he rose so that now we have unshakable hope in (not instead of) suffering, and this hope gives rise to joy. That’s why verse 12 says, “Rejoice in hope.” This joy sustains patient endurance, which is why verse 12 says, “Be patient in tribulation,” and why Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him.” (John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary). 

The psalmist expresses his longing and thirst for God in Psalm 42:1,2: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” Then he asks his own soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? 

Here is the psalmist’s response, and resolve: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (v. 11). The psalmist realizes he shouldn’t be cast down and in turmoil when there is hope and that hope is in none other than God. Faith and hope in God work wonders, and bring victory. “I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”