Hope is indispensable in life. Life has its challenges. Some of these sometimes emerge when least expected. Tribulations and life difficulties initiate the machinery for weakening and destruction of hope.
1 Kings 19:1-4 ”And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. [4] But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
Tribulations come in various forms, some of such include:
- Ministry/spiritual
- Health
- Relationships
- Professional
- Family
- Financial
- Unfulfilled expectations
- Injustice
Everyone face some degree of life challenges which if not properly managed could compromise or destroy hope. Some people might have slightly easy but it is tougher for others. The chunk of travails some have to face is enormous. Elijah, an outstanding prophet of God was so stretched that he even asked God to take His life. The COVID-19 situation has unfortunately brought a combination of challenges on several fronts.
The fallout of the impact on people around the world is unprecedented. Some have been left with compromised health, some have lost their loved ones, some have been left without jobs or had to face reduced income or severe financial loss due to poor returns on investments.
Social networks have been negatively affected as restrictions on social activities have been put in place. some face increased work stress due to increased exposure and the psychological trauma they in seeing people in dire health situation. The mental and emotional well-being of many have been negatively impacted, many have lost hope. Christians and unbelievers alike are both affected by travails of life. The only advantage the Christian has is that he/she is anchored in Christ and confident in His love and power to uphold him/her through such storm.
God’s grace and mercy are indispensable in the battles of life. We cannot stand alone, we need to hold on to God. Elijah in his spiritual maturity and glory after defeating the priests of Baal who had challenged his God to a dwell, perceived a great threat from Jezebel’s declaration such that he wished for death.
There are no unbreakable men, there are situations that can break those who think they are invincible and indestructible, only God is unbreakable.
Our faith need to be on nothing else but God. He must be the rock in whom our hope is moored. An unbreakable spirit is needed in overcoming during times of challenges. It needs abandonment of oneself unto the Lord. Hope is a factor of our spirit. When your inner man is strong even in the midst of physical challenges you keep plodding on.
Proverbs 18:10,14 ” The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. [14] The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”
“You can chain me, you can’t torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” -Gandhi
“Prison is designed to break one’s spirit and destroy one’s resolve. To do this, the authorities attempt to exploit every weakness, demolish every initiative, negate all signs of individuality- all with the idea of stamping out that spark that makes each of us human and each of us who we are.”
“Difficulties break some men but make others” – Mandela (Long walk to freedom)
What kept a man in prison going for 27 years and still emerged with the will to forgive those who tortured and kept him locked away and unite a very segregated nation? Hope and love and his great desire to see his people free. Hope comes from something outside yourself
HOPE
Someone (or something) on which expectations are centred. The general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled
Our expectations must be centred on God. A healthy ongoing relationship with Him is what can ensure that strength and sanity is maintained when the floods of life come roaring and hitting strong.
Jeremiah 3:23 ” Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.”
Jeremiah 17:13-14 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. [14] Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Lamentations 3:24-26 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. [25] The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. [26] It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
The word of God is critical tool that helps build and enhance our hope. Strength and faith grow when we feed upon, assimilate and believe in it
Psalm 119:49-50 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. [50] This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalm 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Psalm 130:5-7 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. [6] My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. [7] Let Israel hope in the Lord : for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
Psalm 147:11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Job 31:24-25 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; [25] If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
God is happy to see those who confess Christ hope in him. This shows that they have faith and confidence in Him. We can sometimes say in haste that all is finished. No story is ended until God says so or except the one involved accepts that the story is ended. Glorious deliverances and interventions happened in the Bible, some were spoken about in last Sunday’s sermon. The God who do strange things is still the same
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
If God Himself has declared Himself as unchanging, in stature and character, it is unwise for us not to relate with Him as such. He has called us His children. How does a father relate with his child in life? A father who truly knows his responsibility puts his child’s welfare as priority. You will not be consumed, do not lose hope no matter the strength of the storm, there is one who the waves and storms of life must obey, the Almighty God.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Psalm 103:12-14 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. [13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. [14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psalm 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Be moored to God through Jesus Christ. God has done it before in countless lives and countless times, only believe and trust Him. If He did it before, He will do it again, have hope no matter how strong the storm is raging in your life right now. Do not despair, this will pass if only you hold on to God.