Hope Changes Your Life Forever

Do life’s hurts, heartaches, and injustices leave you feeling hopeless? Me too. But there’s something I want you to know. You are never far from hope. And hope changes your life forever.

All humans hope.

Still, sometimes things turn out differently than we hoped.

But the Bible tells us authentic hope is found in the God of hope.

So let’s look at 4 ways hope changes our life forever.

(1.) Life’s Drive-Thru Window Lacks Hope

Just as we often end up with the wrong order or a problem with our order at a drive-thru window, the world offers us hope that fizzles and fades away.

The only choices on the menu offer false promises. High hopes placed in people, programs, possessions, money, goals, careers, or religion. None of these serve us well.

People fail us. Programs unravel. Possessions leave us hollow. Money never satisfies. Unreached goals magnify our weaknesses. Aspiring careers crash. And religion commands our tireless effort.

God’s Word offers a hope established before drive-thru windows…before the world even existed.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV). The NIV states it, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

The only hope worth waiting on comes straight from the ample, fully-stocked windows of heaven. No drive-thru service needed. This is a real and lasting hope found in the true Hope-Giver.

(2.) Hope in True Love: Hope Changes Your Life

“He loves me, he loves me not.”

I plucked the daisy petals, deciding the outcome of my childhood crush. As a young girl, I longed for love.

For a portion of my life, I wondered, Am I lovable? I assumed love thrived in shiny things and successful people. Love with prerequisites.

But there’s good news and God news.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth and died for us on Calvary’s cross. Why? Because God loves us. This we know, for the Bible tells us so.

God loved us in the womb. He loves us today and tomorrow and every day into the future. Love in past, present, and future tense.

It’s hope in the kind of love that goes to the cross.

God loved us in the womb. He loves us today and tomorrow and every day into the future. Love in past, present, and future tense. It's hope in the kind of love that goes to the cross. Share on X

A love not based on the whimsical hope of the last flower petal. We can never say about God, “He loves me not.” It is always, “He loves me. He loves me. God loves me. Jesus loves me.”

(3.) The Day Hope Showed Up

I peeked through the curtain from side stage and scanned the audience for my family. I’d landed my first high-school role in a play and hoped to make my family proud.

Over 2000 years ago, God set the stage for a story of hope.

The birth of the Christ-child took place in a lowly stable where animals occupied the front-row seats.

Jesus grew and carried out the heavenly Father’s will. The supernatural happened in His presence. He served the community and reached out to wanderers, outcasts, and the wayward lost without hope.

An enemy, Satan, plotted to destroy God’s plans to bring hope to a hopeless people. Still, the Savior died on a cross for the sins of the world…my sins.

The enemy and Jesus’ accusers barely had time to celebrate before Christ’s followers began rejoicing. Come and see! He is risen, just as He said!

Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave.

Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave. Share on X

The resurrection—the day hope showed up. Hope unveiled in amazing grace. When we accept God’s salvation, He raises us to new life and new hope in the name of Jesus.

(4.) Hope Lives Closer Than You Think: Hope Changes Your Life

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13 ESV).

God fills us with His joy and peace, so that we abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus lives in us through the Holy Spirit, He brings hope near. It’s not just around the corner, off in the distance, on the other side of glory. And it’s not something we muster up in our own power.

But it’s something we possess—a gift from God.

Does Jesus live in you? Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? If you answered yes, then stop looking for hope’s address.

Hope lives wherever the presence of Jesus dwells—in you.

Does Jesus live in you? Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? If you answered yes, then stop looking for hope’s address. Hope lives wherever the presence of Jesus dwells—in you. Share on X

Hope Changes Your Life

Friend, you are never far from hope. In tragedy, it is there. It soars above despair. During dark moments, it covers with light.

Life brings hurt, heartache, and hard places that threaten to dissolve every ounce of faith.

But in an uncertain world, there’s an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for your soul.

Hope is a person. His name is Jesus. And hope changes your life forever.

Last week’s post, Confident God’s Working for Our Good.

Featured images courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups: Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).

---

© 2024 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved