Young Adults' Group

Hope For 2016

by Pastor Mark
January 21, 2016

Faith as the basis for our hope

At the combined YPG-YAG-AM meeting last Saturday, Pastor Charles gave us a most apt word. He taught that faith is the substance of things hope for. (Heb 11:1) The word “substance” in Greek is “hupostasis” which means the basis of something. Faith is the basis for our hope in God.

This means that our hope in God is very much dependent on our faith in Him. When we are able to grow our faith, then we would be able to find a greater sense of hope. But if we do not grow our faith in the knowledge of God, then we could lose hope.

Losing hope

I was reminded of what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote when he struggled to hope. He anguished with all that was happening to Israel. They were going through tremendously tough times. When Jeremiah focused on all the wrong things and thoughts, he lost hope and strength, “You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity. And I said, “My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord.” (Lam 3:18)

In the same way, we tend to lose hope when we allow our problems to overwhelm us. The challenge is to not allow ourselves to be fixated to our problems and afflictions. We need to focus on God instead.

Finding hope in God again

There came a change in the thoughts of Jeremiah when he began to remember and to focus on God. He renewed his faith in the Lord’s mercies through which he was not consumed. (Lam 3:21-24) He focused on the Lord’s compassions which did not fail him. In fact, God gave him new compassions each morning. He appreciated all over again how great the faithfulness of God was to him.

There came the strengthening of his soul and he was able to say with faith, “The Lord is my portion.” Jeremiah found hope in God and God alone. He used the following phrase twice, “Therefore I have hope.” His new found faith and focus on God gave him hope. Even as we go through the challenges of life, let us find faith in God so that we can hope again.

Wait with hope

One of the hardest things to do in life is to wait. We wait for the Lord to provide for our needs. We wait for His deliverance from our problems. Jeremiah had to learn to wait.

Yet as he waited, this was his understanding, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lam 3:25,26)

We learn to wait with hope…that God will be good to us. Our part is to continue to seek Him. We should learn to hope and wait quietly (without complain) …that the Lord will deliver us in His time.

Let us be challenged to grow our faith that we may find hope in the Lord and in all that He will do for us as we face the challenges of life and ministry in 2016.

Back to Article Listing