“I’ve lost Teddy!” Aaron cried. Wrapping him in a hug his mom reassured him, “Together we’ll find him!” Diligently they searched under every bed, in every closet and even removed all the toys from the toy box. After searching for Teddy without results, Aaron sighed hopelessly, “We’ll never find him.”

“We haven’t finished! Let’s check the laundry room,” mom encouraged. Hopeful, Aaron ran to the laundry room dragging his mom along. Opening the door Aaron cried, “Kitty has teddy!” “Thanks mom, you always find lost things!”  he said grabbing teddy away from the cat.

Smiling Aaron flipped Teddy’s power switch. Teddy’s voice said “Hello,” then suddenly stopped. “No, worries” said his mom, “We just need to change his batteries.”

How many things in your life have you lost and later found?

How about hope? Whether it’s our career, relationships, health or a lost toy bear, there are times when we all lose hope. After all, we are just human. What is hope and how do we get it?

WHAT IS HOPE?

Merriam-Webster defines hope as: to cherish a desire with anticipation, to want something to happen or be true.

Hope is a courageous choice.

Hope may seem like a feeling when we’ve lost it. However, hope is not a feeling. It is a courageous choice we make to have faith even when it seems to be against all odds.

Who would have thought Abraham and Sarah could have a child with numerous descendants?

Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed,
so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken,
 “So shall your descendants be.” 
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body,
already dead (since he was about a hundred years old),
 and the deadness of Sarah’s womb,
 Romans 4:18-19

Who would have bet on David when he defeated Golaith?  1 Samuel 17:41-50
Who would imagine the Red Sea would part for the Israelites escape from the Egyptians?  Exodus 14:21-31.
Who would have thought Paul & Silas’ prison chains would break from an earthquake? Acts 16: 16-39.

These people as well as many more in the scriptures saw the impossible because they had hope.

Hope encourages the impossible.

Hope does not deny reality. Paul knew he was in prison and David knew he faced a giant. Rather, then focus on reality, they focused on their hope in God’s love, faithfulness and ability to be victorious in spite of their circumstances.

When we have hope it opens our hearts and minds to solutions, new opportunities and how to move forward. It allows us to listen and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit as He guides us though our circumstance. “When we feel hopeful, our brains light up with activity that helps us plan, persist, and persevere.”¹

But Jesus looked at them and said,
 “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible,”
Mark 10:27

We were designed for hope.

“People who cultivate hope tend to recover faster from illness, respond better to pain, and live longer. They experience lower levels of depression and anxiety. Their immune systems are stronger. Their relationships are healthier.”¹

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen,
 Hebrews 11:1

HOW DO WE FIND HOPE?

Jesus is the source of all of our hope. He already paid for our sin, mistakes, pain, sorrows and sickness when He was crucified on Calvery. He already won the victory for us when He rose from the dead. Because of Jesus we have hope.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again
 to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3

HOW DO WE KEEP HOPE?

1. Focus on Jesus.

Focusing our faith, our hope, on Jesus gives us confidence that He will bring victory in His time and in His way; even though we haven’t yet seen it.

Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord,
Psalm 31:24

2. Read, meditate and study God’s Word.

Delving into God’s Word will reinforce His love for us and give us hope for victory.

For whatever things were written before
were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort
of the Scriptures might have hope,
Romans 15:4

3. Change our battery.

Aaron lost hope when Teddy’s battery died. However, changing it for a new battery, would bring Aaron hope.

How about the battery that powers us?  When we rely on our own strength to be hopeful, it’s like using a battery that will eventually lose its power. To have long lasting hope, we need to change our battery for the power of the Holy Spirit.

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,
Romans 15:13

LOST HOPE?
TURN TO JESUS,
THE FINDER OF ALL LOST THINGS.

REFLECTION

Have you lost hope?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I write 1 Peter 1:3 and say it aloud, fill me with Jesus, the living hope, and the power of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to stay focused on Jesus and Your Word. In Jesus name. Amen.

OUR FAITH, HOPE, IS IN JESUS

Comment!

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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/

1 sciencenewstoday.org
Photo cat, Super Tseng
Photo Red Sea, rcascoherrera
Photo boy, acertmsweeper
Photo batteries, AlfLucio