HOPE AGAINST HOPE

Abraham was a hero. He led a life of Faith. He had hope in God when all odds were against him. He saw God as his provider. The steps he took weren’t as simple as the story may read. A teacher once told me that every past question is easy. It is very true. When I hear stories of great heroes, I sometimes say “well, anybody at all can do this”. But in reality it is easier said than done. To live the kind of life Abraham led requires total sacrifice of our lives to God, which today is very difficult for Christians. We love the world so much that majority will rather skip Church activity to watch football games, telenovelas, movies, etc.

The scripture tells us that Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. Those times, Abraham had no Bible, no pastor, counselor, mentor, etc yet he believed in God and was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Don’t lose hope yet because the God we serve is a God of the living, and not a God of the dead. David said in Psalm 27:13 that “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” In the midst of that negative situation, or what you see to be impossible, just say to yourself every moment that “I am still confident I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Wait for the Lord

When the promise came to Abraham, he might have thought it was going to happen right away but it took twenty – five years before it came to pass. He waited for that long before he had the son. By the way, he had a son with his maid because of his impatience. Most of us want God to answer us as soon as we press his door bell. But the scripture says if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25. Christians all over the world are suffering because of Abraham’s impatience. Though we belong to the Abrahamic blessings, his impatience has brought sorrows, pains, etc to many Christians’ homes. In Nigeria, some believers were burnt alive when they were having service. We shouldn’t repeat what Abraham did. Our little impatient can cost us our lives, our family, our generation, and even those after us. David said in Psalm 27:14 that “wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”.

God doesn’t Delay

He said in Ezekiel 12:25 “But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay”. He is faithful. Though we may feel the promise is delaying, we may start to think all hope is lost; the truth is He doesn’t delay. In fact, He is always on time. I wrote something about this (HE IS ALWAYS ON TIME), you can check it on facebook; http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150361550228289. Whatever He opens His mouth to say, know that He is more than able to perform. Be encouraged today that if you have not received what you have constantly be asking for in Prayer, in Faith, and in the Name of Jesus, God is working behind the scene. He is not going to delay. You will have it when the time is right. You may be asking for a car. But God knows that a car will destroy your life. He wants you alive, to enjoy his goodness for your life, so He will wait for the right time to answer your request. He also doesn’t want any of His blessings for our lives to lead us to hell. He wants us in Heaven. He will wait for the right time. Let us maintain the right attitude and know that whatever He has promised, he will do it in His time.

In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon said, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Don’t rush to get things done in life because your little “impatient” can cost you your life, and everything you have. Abraham waited for 25 years, Noah waited for about 100 years before the flood came, Joseph waited, and went through a lot before he saw his dreams come to pass.

Sometimes, we lose hope when we feel the things we desire have delayed. When for years we have prayed for something but nothing seems to happen. I want to encourage you today that believe in God, and know that He will make everything beautiful in its time

Where is your hope?

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31. Hope doesn’t disappoint. Most of us believe their wealth can take them through in life. Putting our hope in material things will disappoint us and may lead us to hell. 1 Timothy 6:17 says command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. David said No one whose hope is in God will ever be put to shame.

The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. There is nothing to worry about when we place our hope in Him. When everything around you tells you to give up, when people start to talk you out, when doctors tell you the situation is beyond medical reasoning, when after all efforts you still don’t see any progress. When your own feelings tell you it is over, REMEMBER what God said “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.” “See I have engraved you on the palm of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

God makes the promise and keeps His promise because He can and because He is good. It is only for us to say, “thanks be to God,” believe and obey. So, even though the headlines scream their daily news that sin rules the world and evil goes unchecked, and even though prices rise and markets fall, and though wars continue and diseases kill and disasters destroy, even though all of the evidence suggests otherwise, yet in hope, we will believe against hope. For our hope is in God, “who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

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