Ours is the God of Hope (and What this Means for Christians)
I had a memory from my past (when I was in the new age) come up when I was learning about God and hope this week. Even when I was so lost in the new age, I’d have glimpses of learnings from God. God was always drawing me to Him.
I was studying the Hebrew word for hope which is Tikvah.
Tikvah has a really beautiful meaning. Tikvah is like being connected with God by a cord or a rope. We’re tethered to Him. A special connection we have with God that connects us to heaven everyday. As Christians, we’re connected to Him whether we’re in a good place or we’re feeling the heaviness of life. No. Matter. What.
And as I was learning about this and sitting with what this means, I remembered something I used to say in my new age days. I used to always tell my clients to remember that there was a golden thread connecting us to God from our hearts.
I see things through very different eyes these days, but the heart of what I was trying to say is similar.
Whatever you do, whatever you need, whatever you’re going through you have a direct line to God through prayer and relationship. That’s the most hopeful thing to me. It’s comforting. And it’s also strengthening.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
who is the God of hope?
Whether you’re hopeful or you’ve lost all hope - ours is the God of hope. But what does this mean?
Hope generally means there’s an expectation that something we want will happen. There’s built-in trust. In hopeful situations we are accepting that we need to let go of striving and pushing.
Some things only God can do. And if He says so, it will be so. The entire Bible is a series of God’s fulfilled promises to His people. When we lose hope, or feel hardened by life, we can remind ourselves God gives hope to us freely.
Just because we hope for something doesn’t mean it’ll happen. Just read Hebrews 11 as a reminder of this. BUT, feeling hopeful and knowing we are connected, tethered to God who never forgets about you and always hears you (1 John 5:14-15) brings a sense of peace and trust that’s really helpful while you’re experiencing the in-between.
hope is a gift from God
Hope is a gift that we get to use as a way to build character while we wait and listen. Sometimes the Holy Spirit tells us to change directions, passions, jobs, beliefs! I don’t know how many times that’s happened to me. You too?
You get stronger in your faith the more hopeful you can be because we’re leaning into something we don’t know will come. But we do know we can trust God. God shows us how to be wonderfully hopeful.
let’s practice
If hope is something you want to lean into more with God here are a few suggestions to support you.
1 - Make a list of what you’re hopeful for
This can be really simple or not. Write out list-style or in a journal page or on a notes app on your phone to get started. Say what you’re hopeful for. Try to be as honest as you can be. If it helps, think about the places in your life where it feels hard to have hope. That’s a really great place to begin.
2 - pray about it
God hears your prayers, love. Tell Him. Pour your heart out and use the gift of hope and imagine yourself holding onto that rope that connects you with God as you pray. I find simple visuals like this to be a comfort when I feel a little disconnected in my prayer time.
3 - memorize a bible verse to support a hopeful heart
I love scripture memory! It gifts us so much in those little moments when we could start doubting or feel the anxiety building up during the day. Choose a verse that supports your work with hope. Here are a few to get you started.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
Psalm 125:1
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 39:7
But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Mark 9:23
Everything is possible for one who believes.
Psalm 71:14
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
If you’d like to hear about something happening in real-time that God is doing, listen to Like the Dove podcast episode 5. It’s good to remind ourselves that as Christians we lean on hope and God gifts us with His love and presence.
I love you!
Eliza
