Prayer to find true hope in Christ
Author: Emily Rose Massey
Bible reading:
“All that was written of old was written for our instruction, that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NASB).
Listen or read below:
I was looking at home decor at Hobby Lobby the other day and found so many words of encouragement. Signs with words such as “peace,” “joy,” “life,” “hope,” and “strength” filled the aisles. These words are uplifting, but they are actually empty if they are not rooted in God Himself, the only Giver of these things. We cannot find joy, peace, life, hope, and strength apart from God and His Word. We cannot see within ourselves as a source. We must look to Christ, the Word made flesh. As believers, our faith in Jesus Christ gives us hope to remain steadfast because we know that Jesus Christ is faithful. This hope is our anchor that carries us through everything.
This anchor is what keeps you in your trust and faith in the Lord. Hope is not something that can be created or evoked. Sure, we can give ourselves a pep talk when we’re feeling down, or a friend can encourage us to keep putting one foot in front of the other, but true hope comes from the Holy Spirit, who often uses the scriptures to give us strength and encouragement. God gives us faith that His promises are true. he is not a liar. He is completely trustworthy. The bottom line is that His sovereign hand is at work in our lives. We will not be put to shame.
Having an eternal perspective helps us take our eyes off the cares of this world and move forward when we’re in the middle of a storm, reminding us that this place is not our home after all. Keeping a heavenly heart during earthly trials strengthens our hope in God. The more we meditate on the scriptures and learn more about who God is and what he has promised us in Christ, the more our hearts can be filled with hope.
In Romans chapter 15 we read: “All that was written of old was written for our instruction, that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NASB).
Do you find it difficult to persevere, especially when going through trials? How often do you fill your soul with scripture? As I mentioned above, the more we read the Bible, the more it fills our hearts with hope and gives us the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keeping our eyes on Jesus.
We look forward to the second coming of Christ and the day when we will live forever with God in our heavenly home. No matter how dark things may be happening around us in the world or in our personal lives, we must ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with hope. If we keep looking for His words in the Bible, He will do it for us. We need to renew our minds with God’s Word so that we can more clearly seek and understand God’s perfect will in our lives. God has a purpose for us to fulfill on this earth. It is about sharing God’s glorious gospel with others so that they too may find the hope that is available to God’s children.
As children of God, we may feel despair in our hearts, but we must rise above that feeling and remember the great hope we have in Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. When hopelessness threatens to overwhelm us, let us look beyond what we see and ask God for help, attaching ourselves to the hope that comes from trusting in God’s promise of eternal life in Christ.
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As your child, you have given me the gift of faith in your Son. My hope is not built on the temporary things this world offers me, but a much greater hope for what is eternal and settled. Help me to protect my heart when I am tempted by my circumstances and my emotions run wild and I feel like I am about to succumb to despair.
The chaos of the world will not bring me down. Because I know that there is always an anchor in the hope of a heavenly home that awaits me. May I be able to deliver that message of hope to those around me who are lost and hurting.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Nias Nyalada
Emily Massey started writing short stories and poems at a young age, entered the world of blogging in her early twenties, and published her first book in 2015. While she enjoys being a homeschool mom to four boys, she is also able to pursue her passion as a writer. She believes much is forgiven, loves much, and desires to teach others about Christ and His saving and transforming power, especially by sharing the truths found in God’s written Word. To connect with Emily, please visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.
Related Resources: Getting Real with God: Prayer Without Performance
Author Addison Bevier appears on Arlene’s Happy Home Podcast to talk about what sincere and non-good prayer actually looks like for you and your children. He shares why humility is a parenting superpower, how to guide children to “second purity,” and why the morning routine is the most spiritually important part of the day. Join us for a truly wisdom-filled conversation about prayer and Addison’s new book, A Word with God. If you like what you hear, follow Arlene Pellicane’s Happy Home Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
