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“There’s something about the power of hope that fuels us and enables us to persevere.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 146). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I remember where I was when I heard the news of those planes hitting those buildings in NYC back on 9/11.  We lived on Long Island for three years and we spent time down where it happened and we listened to people who had stories of how the horrible attack impacted them. And I know that so many people on that day lost hope.  Their life would never be the same.

Craig says, “Hope is a funny thing. When you truly trust God, you have something to look forward to, a kind of divine anticipation for where he’s taking you. You also have a security you can rest in, the certainty that no matter how bad things seem, he’s still in control and on your side. And you have a desire for change—probably in your circumstances, but more important, in your heart. You want to be closer to God. When you add up all these things, you get the kind of hope that allows you to climb up beyond your present circumstances and confusion.”

Craig goes on, “Proverbs tells us, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life’ (13:12 NLT). The Proverbs also tells us, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (29:18 KJV). There’s something about the power of hope that fuels us and enables us to persevere.  It’s amazing what you can endure when you have a reason.”

He says, “No one illustrated this better than Jesus. When he knelt in the garden of Gethsemane, he knew what he would have to endure. The beatings. The scourging. The mocking. The torture. The humiliation.  But Jesus continued moving forward. He remained faithful to his Father.

"How did Jesus do it? The writer of the book of Hebrews gives us a glimpse. Hebrews 12:2–3 says, ‘For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart’ (emphasis mine). Jesus just needed one reason to press through the pain. One good reason to stay. What was his reason? It was the ‘joy set before him.’  You were the reason he came. You were the joy set before him.”

Craig says, “… usually, the things that mean the most require time. Building loving relationships. Trusting someone. Watching your kids grow up. Finding a fulfilling job. Sure, the little things might get us through the day, the week, the month. But only the hope of the Lord can get us through life.”

I know on the next day after Jesus was killed his followers felt there was no hope.  But just two days later they had hope.  He was alive.  And in that death and resurrection, we all too can have hope.  He died and rose again so that we could have a relationship with him and so we could have hope.  So, do you have a relationship with Jesus?  Is he your hope?  The answer can be…

Yes, yes!
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