We all need hope in our lives. Without hope we will not be able to face tomorrow. With hope in our lives we will be able to face whatever happens in our lives. Hope is an essential ingredient in life.
I can remember a time in my life when hope was strong in my heart. At that time nothing was too difficult or a challenge. During this time my heart and my mind would be full of new ideas and vision. I would lay down to sleep and I would not be able to get to sleep fast enough so that the morning could come and I could pursue more of the things that were alive within me. Then through circumstances I lost hope. Instead of excitement and anticipation there came a sense of discouragement, despair and even small things began to be a challenge. Life just became too difficult. I could not fall asleep because of the concerns and worries regarding what I may need to face the next day. It was only as God began to restore my hope that things began to change. I wish I could tell you that it happened overnight, but that was not the case. Over a period of time, God began to make new and fresh hope available to me. As hope returned so did my desire for more of what God had for me.
God can do this for you as well. He can restore hope and give you fresh hope, no matter what the circumstances may be.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HOPE IS LOST
When hope is lost many things can happen. However, I have discovered that there are two main things that begin to develop in our hearts when hope is lost.
1. Discouragement
This is the first one that usually appears. As hope is undermined or lost, discouragement sets in. It is like a wave of disillusionment. It is under these conditions that we open ourselves up for greater devastation. When discouragement is allowed to take root in our hearts it can ultimately lead to depression. Depression becomes a long-term condition that begins to touch every area of our lives.
2. Despair
When we begin to despair is when we get to that point of giving up or wanting to throw in the towel. Our self-worth becomes affected and we begin to have thoughts that can play a destructive role in our lives. It is here that we can begin to think that even God has deserted us. It is a point at which bitterness and anger takes root in our hearts.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPE
The question is why is hope so important? It is a little thing that makes a great difference in our lives. The reason for this is that hope looks to the future. Hope speaks of what is still to come and the things that we anticipate or expect. Hope is fundamentally a desire. A desire within us that is accompanied by an expectation of greater or better things.
In the military they use the word morale to describe this phenomena. When troops have hope and expectation that they are winning or have the upper hand the morale is high. When troops know they are staring defeat in the face, they lose hope and morale drops. Once an army has lost hope (morale) the chances of defeat are increased. For this reason every effort is made to sustain the morale/hope.
Hope is concerned with the unseen and the future. In essence these are things that we do not always have control over. But God does! And because of this we can have hope.
Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
We can happily anticipate God’s goodness – that is hope.
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