Hope: A Fruit Tree to Nourish

The writer of Ecclesiastes observed there is a time and purpose for everything. "A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and to harvest," are two opposites on his list. These indicate each person will experience predictable changes in life, and how we cope with change determines our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

However, it is possible to find purpose and meaning with change by activating hope for the future. Hope produces both the desire and the will to struggle when facing difficult changes. Hope is like a fruit tree planted with expectations for it to produce good fruit.

Hope is the starting point of every ambition. It provides an anchor that stabilizes life. Hope contributes to your confidence as you mature in faith as a Christian. When the apostle Paul spoke of his faith and hope, he spoke of these as a progression that was maturing. Hope is a precious gift from God, so guard and nurture it.  

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Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways.

~1 Corinthians 13:7 & 11 Good News Bible

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The Destiny of Hope

The majority of human beings are capable of possessing hope. Even though it plays an incredible role in life, we seldom give it much thought. Failing to possess hope implies life has become so troubled and chaotic that all faith for a good future appears to have evaporated. But where does hope stem from and how do we get it?

The apostle Paul instructs us to do what seems impossible.“We rejoice in suffering because we know suffering builds perseverance, which shapes our character, so therefore hope is created. Our hope does not disappoint us because God pours into our hearts his love by the Holy Spirit."

By this progression we have suffering and perseverance, which build character and hope. Character’s foundation is made of strong values and ethics, encased in patience and kindness along with love for God and his people, which produce the attribute of hope. The Holy Spirit helps us understand and accept that hope is our destiny which is given by Christ Jesus.  

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Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.

~Psalm 62:5-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible

 

And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope.

~Romans 15:4 Contemporary English Version

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Trusting the Giver of Hope

Renewing hope that’s beaten down hinges on looking beyond hurt and sadness to God’s future purpose for you. Where there is loss of hope, life appears dark and empty, but by permitting even a flicker of hope to exist, the promise for a good future is possible. Hope can be battered and bruised but it never gives up or quits.

Hope looks forward to a good future like an expectant mother anticipates holding and nurturing a newborn baby. For the Christian, hope waits for God’s future provision and guidance. Hopelessness, however, is barren and unable to give birth to possibilities. Hopelessness must be rejected for it diminishes the initiative to reach for the future.

Believe that God is the giver of hope and strength to endure your present situation. Hope inspires endurance that’s anchored in Christ Jesus. While grief impacts the human spirit, hope inspired by faith makes it possible to endure whatever Christ has placed before you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.  

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“The Lord is all I have,” says my soul, “Therefore I will trust in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who searches for him. It is good to hope and wait patiently for the Lord’s salvation.  

~Lamentations 3:24-26 International Standard Version

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When Hope Is Lost

Finding hope after it has been beaten down is possible. Loss of hope can be caused by divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a career, or any significant rejection. When one loss follows another, accumulative grief can be overwhelming. If discouragement gains a foothold, it can build a bridge to desperation.

Terrible things happen to good people because evil confronts everyone. However, reckless behavior and bad choices also contribute to the loss of hope. Whatever the reasons, one way to manage the problem is to ask Christ Jesus to help you accept what has been so difficult for you in the past.

There are moments in life when you’re vulnerable enough to accept needed change. David penned this prayer in a similar moment: "Rescue me from this mire; do not let me sink. Do not let the pit close in on me. Come near and redeem me." Do not let go of your faith in God for he is your true source for hope. So give thanks and praise to him for the hope you have.  

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O Lord, all peace and all prosperity have long since gone, for you have taken them away. I have forgotten what enjoyment is. All hope is gone; my strength has turned to water, for the Lord has left me. Oh, remember the bitterness and suffering you have dealt me! For I can never forget these awful years; always my soul will live in utter shame. Yet, there is one ray of hope; his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his lovingkindness begins afresh each day.  

~Lamentations 3:17-23 The Living Bible

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God Can Restore Your Hope

The rain falls on the deserving as well as the undeserving, which translates into good times and troubled times. Our behaviors and attitudes definitely influence what happens to us. When dark times appear, the jolt can be discouraging and heart-breaking.

Hope plays an essential role in every dimension of life, and if hope is permitted to fade, even the normal issues of life may seem overwhelming. In the worst circumstances there are those individuals who will remain optimistic compared to those who seem to lose hope.

Yet hope, when lost, can be restored. Listen to Proverbs 18:28: “There is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off.” Psalm 147:11 continues, “The Lord delight in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Never turn away from God’s love for you. Instead, seek him until you feel hope returning to your soul and spirit. God wants to help you, to save you and be with you.  

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Come to the place of safety,… for there is yet hope! I promise right now, I will repay you two mercies for each of your woes!

~Zechariah 9:12 The Living Bible

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For a Bright Future, Light Your Pathway

Hope is comparable to a light that illuminates the pathway to the future, and seeing it come to fruition is like coming home to a reception filled with joyful celebration. Hope provides motivation for maintaining focus and staying on track, but critical for hope to materialize is avoiding distractions by confronting them.

As individuals progress into later adulthood, the object of hope may be retirement filled with relaxation, travel, and enjoyment of family and friends. Realistic hope is coupled with staying healthy in body and mind, eating properly, getting exercise, and taking medication as prescribed. Hope for a bright future involves preparation.

To avoid being distracted by the cares of the world, stay focused on God’s word for encouragement. Listen to Zephaniah 3:17. “The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you and his love will give you new life.” Hope centered in Jesus Christ helps you stay focused.  

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Then Jesus again addressed them and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever continues to follow me need never walk in darkness, but will enjoy the light that means life.

~John 8:12 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Hope for Your Children – But Let Them Choose

Parents naturally hope their children will succeed in choosing an honorable career and will excel beyond what they achieved. Parents who hope their children will achieve fame and fortune become discouraged when they settle for an ordinary lifestyle. It’s important that parents’ hope fits each child’s personality and talent.

From early childhood a mother was determined her son would take over the family business after finishing college from a prestigious university of her choice. This mother’s ambitions did not take into consideration what her son planned to do with his life. To her dismay, he chose a career completely different  from her choice.

As we entrust our children into God’s care, we can say with the Psalmist, “I am confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and be encouraged.” Be certain that God knows what is right and good for you and your children. Constantly place your hope in him.  

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Because of our love for you we were ready to share with you not only the Good News from God but even our own lives…We encouraged you, we comforted you, and we kept urging you to live the kind of life that pleases God, who calls you to share in his own Kingdom and glory.

~1 Thessalonians 2:8 & 12 Good News Bible  

 

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

~Psalm 33:11 New International Version

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Face Reality and Avoid Disappointment

Hope is always connected to the future. Everyone has had their hopes dashed by an unexpected turn of events, such as being passed over for a promotion when a salary increase would have provided for important needs in the family. Hope has validity when it’s centered on realistic needs.

One of my professors was fond of reminding his students that if they did not study for his exams, they would fail. Yet a friend of mine believed that if he sincerely prayed, God would make sure he passed the exams whether he had studied or not. He failed the exams because of vain expectations and false hope.

When hope has not been realized, disappointment and frustration are usually felt. Yet God’s word points to a better way forward. “Why are you cast down on O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? I will put my hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Giving praise to the Lord lifts up the heart and soul and restores hope for the future.  

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Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him and worship him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience, on those who hope confidently in his compassion and lovingkindness.

~Psalm 33:18 Amplified Bible

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Hope – A Powerful Force

Stress is an unpleasant fact and may originate from unexpected places and people. When a relationship or employment becomes the primary source of stress, it’s normal to hope for solutions that bring relief. Prolonged stress builds a bridge to discouragement, which presents a struggle to keep hope alive.

American prisoners of war have testified to torture and extreme conditions in prison camps, but those who survived did not lose their faith in God or hope for eventual freedom. Hope becomes a powerful force whenever a thought is conceived that has realistic possibilities for the future.

Hope demands that patience be exerted for what is yet to be, and this is where faith plays a vital role. The apostle Paul gives us these guidelines for experiencing hope and keeping it alive and active. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." How can this be? Ask the Lord God to fill your heart and soul with certainty that he hears and will answer your prayers.  

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We wait in hope for the Lord. He helps us. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. Our hearts are full of joy because of him. We trust in him because he is holy. Lord, may your faithful love rest on us. We put our hope in you.

~Psalm 33:20-22 New International Reader’s Version

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Strong Hope in the Darkest Night

While it’s true that hope can be crushed, that doesn’t mean hope has disappeared. The human spirit is difficult to oppress because people’s ability to be hopeful is present even in the darkest night of the soul. Hope can be strong with a positive outlook when it’s anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ.

While it’s impossible to pass through life without experiencing some suffering physically or emotionally, hope motivates a person to do what is necessary to heal. When Alexander the Great became sick with a fever in Asia Minor, he trusted his physician to administer the proper medication. Three days later he returned to the battlefield, where Alexander believed in his soldiers who were the best equipped and trained army on earth.

To have hope is to have confidence that God is present with you regardless of what you’re facing at this moment. God wants you to trust in Christ Jesus and have hope and faith that solutions are available for the troubles you’re facing. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”  

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Through [our Lord Jesus Christ] we have confidently entered into this new relationship of grace, and here we take our stand, in happy certainty of the glorious things he has for us in the future. This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of  future joys – we can be full of joy here and now even in our own trials and troubles. These very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us.

~Romans 5:2-5 Phillips – The New Testament in Modern English

 

Eternal life is in [Christ Jesus], and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness – and the darkness can never extinguish it. 

~John 1:4-5 The Living Bible

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A New Year of Hope: Lay a New Foundation with God's Light

 When I think about the word foundation, the words from the hymn “How Firm a Foundation” surface clear and distinct. The words of the hymn speak to the issues we’ve faced for the past two years and give hope for making this year count for good. It is possible to lay a new foundation for blessings and hope by permitting the love of Christ Jesus to dominate your life.

What are you willing to change in the way you live your life that will honor God so you can experience his blessings and his peace? Since we are people, we fall short of being who we could be, but by God’s mercy and kindness we can go forward to fulfill his purpose for us.

This new year will be different as you come clean with God by repenting of every sin that’s preventing you from experiencing his peace. Refuse to live in the shadows of what’s hidden deep in your soul by permitting the light of Christ Jesus to purify you of all unrighteousness.  He will do it. Happy New Year.

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The solid foundation that God has laid cannot be shaken; and on it are written these words: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Those who say that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.”

~2 Timothy 2:19 Good News Bible

My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.

~Ephesians 1:18 Contemporary English Version

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A New Year of Hope: Lay a New Foundation with God's Peace

When you think about the word foundation, what comes to your mind? What do you visualize? What are the main ingredients in a foundation that carries the weight of hope and blessings and is supported by the peace that only God can provide? A life based on God’s word provides strength for meeting each day’s challenges.

Secret sins that date far back in your life can sabotage the blessings God wants to bestow on you. So go in search of what you have hidden away from the light of God’s forgiveness and mercy. It is not too late to repent and come clean with Christ Jesus.

Since this is the beginning of a new year, why not break with the past and permit the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to give you a new start by cleansing  you from all unrighteousness? You may have to make a new start every day, but that’s okay with God. He understands and will help you do it. Don’t hesitate. “Come every soul by sin oppressed, there’s mercy with the Lord.” Happy New Year. 

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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

~Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version

Everyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

~2 Corinthians 5:17 Contemporary English Version

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A New Year of Hope: Lay a New Foundation with God's Promises

We are now beginning a New Year and a new phase of life for each of us. God does not give us the ability to know the future, but we can speculate about what is to come. Our speculations can produce either trust and assurance that God is at work to bring about our good or worry and anxiety about what might happen.

My dad was the worrying type and capable of projecting troublesome times, yet he consistently got up and went to work each day to prepare for an unseen future. Faith and peace are gifts from the Lord God who promises to meet our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

So what would you say are your needs that are different from what you would say you want? Do you remember God’s promise that when we seek him and his kingdom by trusting in him with all our heart, he will never fail to meet our needs? To dispel your worries, express your gratitude to God for his goodness, and then rest in his peace and mercy. Happy New Year. 

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[Jesus said,] “Don’t worry, then, and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or, ‘What are we going to drink?’ or, ‘What are we going to wear?’ The people of the world run after all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need them all. First, be eager to have God as your King and his righteousness, and you’ll get all these other things, too.”

~Matthew 6:31-33 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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