“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15
My life was a roller coaster of hope – and hopelessness. I hoped for a man to love. I was hopeless when relationships with men fell apart. I hoped for a wonderful vacation. The vacations always came to an end. Then what would I hope for? I hoped for a happily ever after marriage. Two husbands abandoned me. I was beyond hopeless. I hoped for this, and I hoped for that. I was high when I was full of hope. I crashed hard, and low, when my hope was not fulfilled. I couldn’t get off the hope roller coaster; I was desperate to hope in something, in someone, to feel okay, to feel good, to believe somehow, in some way, I would find fulfillment in life.
So even when I lost all hope, I sought hope again. Up and down, hope, hopeless. Then, when all hope seemed to be gone, for good this time, and I couldn’t fathom finding an ounce of hope again, the Lord got a hold of me, took me deep into His Word, began to teach me His ways, and gave me a hope unimaginable – a hope that never fades away. Not a roller coaster hope, but a rock solid hope no situation, circumstances, or challenges can ever steal from me. The hope in Him.
The hope that God is with me now, and I will be with God forever. The reason for my hope is this. Because I confess Jesus as Lord, and believe He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and that God raised Him from the dead, I am forgiven, have a relationship with God on earth, and am promised everlasting life with the Lord. I am 100% devoted to following the Lord Jesus Christ and learning to live according to God’s ways. The reason for my hope is this. No matter my challenges, hurdles, obstacles, hurts, losses, tragedies, circumstances, and situations, I have something that will endure forever. The Lord.
Where is your hope today? Are you on a roller coaster like I was for decades? Is your hope in your circumstances, and in your relationships? Is your hope based on the world around you? Or is your hope in God almighty through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it time to get off the roller coaster? If someone asked you today the reason for your hope, what would you say? Is your hope in the Lord? If it is not, repent of your sins and believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and place your hope where it belongs. In the Lord. Devote yourself utterly to Him!
Reprinted from December 1, 2014.
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