Because We Have Hope!

Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen.

Hope reduces feelings of helplessness, increases happiness, reduces stress and generally helps our quality of life. There are three points I would like to share with you today about being hopeful. Before I do, I want to remind you that for hope to work, we must believe in what we are hoping for.

1. Because we have a Hope, we can rejoice in the Lord and we can pray without ceasing. In every situation and in every circumstance we can give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Because we have Hope, Psalms 5:11 tell us, "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." It’s easier to rejoice and be joyful when we have Hope.
2. Because we have Hope, we can overcome temptation. Psalms 121:1-2 tells us, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord; which made heaven and earth." We can increase in happiness and reduce stress by simply putting our Hope in God. The word also says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
3. Because we have Hope, all fear is gone. Psalms 27:1-2 reminds us, "The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. The word also says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strength thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

So my friends, be Hopeful and know that God is with you!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen and… AMEN!