Young Adults' Group

Hope In God

by Pastor Mark
March 07, 2019

Finding hope

As we face the trials and difficulties of life, the challenge is for us to find hope. What is hope? Hope depends on our faith. It is faith that is yet to be realised. As we learn to develop our faith, there will also come greater hope. As we grow in our knowledge of God who helps in our time of need, hope would also become even more significant.

When hope is lost

There will be times when we may lose hope. This was something that the Prophet Jeremiah experienced as he faced the reality of the captivity of Judah. As he saw the grave afflictions of the people that God brought about due to His wrath, he was greatly affected. (Lam 3:1) He became weary and hopeless, “And I said, “My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord.” (Lam 3:18) He remembered all his afflictions and his soul sank within him. (Lam 3:19,20) How was Jeremiah able to hope again?

Finding hope in God again

1. Remembering God

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.” (Lam 3:21)

a. He recalled the mercies of God. Jeremiah sought to remember who God is and what He had done. Through the Lord’s mercies, he and the others who remained were not consumed. (Lam 3:22) This was in view of so many others who have perished because of the captivity. We thank God for His mercies that we are not consumed because of our sins.

b. The compassions of God did not fail, “Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;” (Lam 3:22,23) Israel may have failed God many times. Yet, God’s compassions are given each day. New compassion is graciously extended to us each morning. What a wonderful and compassionate God!

c. The greatness of God’s faithfulness, “Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam 3:23) No matter what, God was always faithful to Israel. His faithfulness to us is truly great. Let us remember all that God is that we may have hope.

2. Regaining hope in God

As Jeremiah remembered God, his soul was uplifted and he was able to hope in God again “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lam 3:24) His soul was able to declare that the Lord was his portion. The word “portion” was a reference to the portion of inheritance that one would receive. For Jeremiah, his portion of inheritance was God and God alone. He was all that mattered to him which gave him hope.

3. Waiting in hope of the salvation of the Lord

“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)

Jeremiah’s hope was not only for the moment. He was able to sustain his hope in God as he waited for the salvation of the Lord. He learnt to wait with hope and to seek God…that He would be good to him. Let us 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.

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