For those who need a word today, let me give you this hope never disappoints! Jesus is our hope and sure anchor in times of a storm. Hold on in perilous times and exercise faith. To exercise involves work, consistent work that is done with regularity. That’s how we build resistance to what pushes against us. To exercise faith we have to stay in the Word, God’s instruction manual, stay on our knees in prayer and meditate, seeking the peace of God to keep us sane in a world where the insane is becoming more common.

We keep the faith by remaining trusting, even if we don’t know the “What” or “Why”, but we believe in the “Who” and the “How” that God will deliver us. He alone holds the future in His hands. He will not send us off on a path He has not scouted out before us. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” So in faith, we can step out in confidence on our journey and continue the course with unwavering assurance.

Hope gives us endurance through believing the end will be favorable, the trial will conclude, and that we will be better having survived the experience. Our greatest joys at the end of the road are that God will be pleased with our efforts and that soon we will see our Lord face-to-face! So in hope we look forward to what we don’t yet have, waiting patiently. (Romans 8:24-25)

How do we wait patiently? Here are some Words to hang your faith on as you currently look at unpaid bills, wayward children, runaway spouses, and distressing news reports:

1. “God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19)
2. If we reflect on our past blessings and God’s past blessings, we can “Learn to be content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12)
3. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
4. “The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid.” (Psalm 27:1B)
5. “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the muck and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40: 1-3A)
6. “YOU (God) will keep in perfect peace those who trust in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

Hope remains optimistic, with the “glass half full” mindset versus living pessimistically with the “glass half empty” outlook on life. Hope looks at the throne filled, and not the empty cross. Hope loves unconditionally, while the world loves with conditions. Hope knows our life is eternal with God and that all in this world is temporal. Hope sings, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” No doom and gloom, no hopelessness and despair. Hope lives and looks to see what the end is going to be…Joy coming in the morning!

Psalm 31:24, “Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord.”