Hope is a very important word. It means trust, reliance, its the happy anticipation of good. Hope does not refer to present reality, but to the expectation that God will finish what He started. Hope should dominate the way we see potential in the lives of other. – H. Norman Wright.
Numerous times, I have seen how God unfolded greater things in our lives. When I refer to greater things, it goes beyond what our minds can perceive. It goes beyond human understanding. It goes beyond our own emotions, and even intellect. When Joshua and I were just starting in our relationship, there were so many obstacles we went through together before we got married, and the obstacles didn’t end there. Our relationship was challenged by the reality of this world, including the cultural barrier, doubts from the hearts of men, and even from within the church. This doubts included the reality of mental illness, immigration law and mostly individual differences and practices.
When I talk about hope, one of the passage that I would like to cite about is the trial that happened in one season of life of Daniel. “He was thrown into the lions den, as Abi said, because he prayed to God.” Accused by the jealous people surrounding him. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. -(Daniel 6:11)
But King Darius, whose heart was for Daniel, and greatly favored him in the midst of uncertainty in the present reality, expressed his hope in Daniel’s God. The King said to Daniel, ” May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.” – (Daniel 6:16) and after that we all knew that the lions reality of devouring Daniel didn’t happened. “Daniel answered, O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Not have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” -(Daniel: 21)
Humanly speaking, being surrounded by the lions, there was no hope. Humanly speaking, being surrounded by the uncertainty of the present reality, if we are basing our situation on our own emotions, and intellect and the knowledge of this world, its easy to lose hope but as a follower of Christ we are command and encourage not to conform in the pattern of this world, we are commanded to “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2
I would like to say this, God is still able to bring new life to seemingly hopeless situations today. We can encourage ourselves to continue praying to God, giving thanks to Him just as we’ve been doing before, and present our request to God and ask God for help just like we’ve been doing before.
The Haltom Family 