Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the events of the day, week or month? Short on time, short on money, kids need clothes, groceries going up, what next? Will I ever get ahead? Hope is diminished by new events and challenges that occur daily. HELP!! Is there a way out of this dilemma?
A few years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it had metastasized. Being a minister I knew the promises of God, yet I had to admit I was shaken. Thoughts plagued my mind “how long do I have left”, “is there a possibility of treatment” and so many other thoughts of discouragement came. During that time I was encouraged to look at the scripture and discovered the thing I needed most was peace. A peace that overshadowed all doubt and fear. Thankfully through the process of time the Lord led me to the right Cancer doctor who knew the right treatment. Today I’m 3 years past and cancer is in remission and God has been faithful.
The challenge was to maintain hope through the process. I’m thankful for the medical science but more thankful for the power of God’s Word that solidified the faith I needed to walk out the treatment.
Hebrew 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for. Here is the important thing to realize: If you don’t have a hope, you don’t need faith and if you don’t have faith you don’t have a basis for hope. Hope apart from faith is only a wish.
Hope defined in 1812 Webster’s Dictionary
A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.
The question is once I resolve what hope is, how do I develop faith. Romans 10:17 tells us how faith comes. God’s word is the only true foundation we have in this world to stand on.
Mark 5:25-32 tells about a woman who had an issue of blood and no doctor could help her. She was going to die. The scripture goes on to say that she heard of Jesus, and she said if I can just get to him I can get healed. She had wanted things in her life to change but the doctors said there is nothing we can do. What happened to change her thinking “she heard”? She heard of all the things that Jesus was doing in peoples lives and it brought hope to her, and she responded by going to him. She had to press her way through the crowd but hope kept moving her forward and faith caused her to reach out.
Your situation will begin to change when you realize there is an HOPE for your situation. What you need most is peace that only can come from the Word of God and knowing his promises for your life. The Lord never said we wouldn’t have challenges in our lives. In John 16:33 he said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (New Living Translation)
I will close for now with a couple additional verses to help you on your way.
These are only the beginning points! 1 Peter 5:6-7; Philippians 4:6-7
