Hope is a LOT more than Wishful thinking! by Kelli
(Note from Linda: Kelli posted the following on the private website yesterday, and it was a great blessing to all of the FAM fellowship members, so I greatly appreciate her permission to share it here. It’s interesting that we all have our favorite verses and passages of scripture, but when I think of hope, I can’t help thinking of Jeremiah 29:11-12, which says For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And that’s a promise we sure can put our hope in as we confidently expect the goodness of God and to be blessed and encouraged by it!)
I have been reading a great book by Terry Law entitled The Fight of Every Believer – Conquering the Thought Attacks That War Against Your Mind. In his book, Terry provides a definition for hope that I have never heard before and that, in turn, opened my eyes to a new understanding of so many verses in the Bible that reference hope. I thought I would share that definition here in the HOPE of encouraging us all to have HOPE!
We all know too well that the enemy’s favored way of attacking us is through our thoughts. And we all know that we must take those thoughts captive and make them obedient to the Word of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). And that’s our defense against the enemy’s attacks. So the question is how we can be more proactive to protect our minds from the enemy even getting in there to begin with.
And God gives us the armor to protect our minds – the helmet of the hope of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” Just as we would wear a helmet when there is a risk of physically injuring ourselves, we must wear the helmet of hope, which God has provided to protect us from the enemy’s attacks on our mind.
My definition of hope has always been to simply have an optimistic attitude…I hope God talks to my husband’s heart. I hope my husband will come home soon. I hope that the thunderstorm we are experiencing will end soon. But I have learned that having hope is not just about positive thinking or wishful thinking; it also involves EXPECTATION.
The definition that Terry Law provides for hope is having “confident expectations of God’s goodness.” I had to read that a few times before it really sunk in. Confident expectations – I like that! And we should all be confidently EXPECTING God’s goodness.
Here are some of my favorite verses that reference hope:
Romans 5:3-5 – “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, know that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” So as we face our trials and tribulations related to marriage restoration, we can rest in knowing these tribulations are producing and growing hope within us. And as this says, hope does not disappoint.
Romans 8:24-25 – “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” We do not always see the work that God is doing on the other side of the mountain, as God will show us that in His perfect timing. But we should be hoping, expecting God’s goodness, for the final outcome.
Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Romans 15:13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Psalm 16:9 – “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.”
Jeremiah 17:7 – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is in the Lord.”
Psalm 119:114 – “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”
So, going into the New Year, let’s all remember to guard our minds and thoughts and put on our helmets of the hope of salvation every day. And let’s CONFIDENTLY EXPECT God’s goodness in every circumstance we find ourselves in!