The Hope God Provides!
Hope is powerful and it’s what everyone is looking for in this life, isn’t it? We long for hope. We look for it when we can’t go on; when we can’t do it ourselves. It is what helps us hold on and endure trials, hardships and grief and without it, we wither and we fail.
But hope needs to be anchored in something unchangeable, omnipotent, and secure. Otherwise, that hope we hold to is variable and insufficient, erratic and unreliable. We become a storm-tossed dingy headed for the rocks because our hope is tethered to that which changes and is storm-tossed as well.
The prophet, Jeremiah, was just a teenager when he was called by God to prophesy to Israel. He endured ridicule, abuse, and rejection because he shared God’s warning of judgement for Israel’s rebellion and Israel didn’t want to hear it. He had a message that was unwelcome, though it was from God. The book of Lamentations describes Jeremiah’s suffering as a servant of the Lord and his lament over the hardships and awful treatment. Jeremiah 3:19-21 is especially important to read, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:...” (emphasis added)
Jeremiah wasn’t waiting on a change of circumstances. He wasn’t expecting an apology from those who mistreated him. He wasn’t looking for things to ‘get better’ so that his heart could be at rest. No, his hope was anchored in something steady, sure, and unchanging. His hope was anchored in Who God was and is.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Jeremiah prayed for rescue, that God would bring deliverance and vindication, but that change of circumstances wasn’t what drove him forward and what gave him hope. He was calling to mind the character of God- that unchangeable, ever-present power that is unwavering and always for us. He knew the God who created him, who created the world, who was Sovereign over everything was sovereign over his circumstances and he could trust Him. He reminded his heart and mind of these:
The Lord’s great love.
His unfailing compassion.
His faithfulness.
The Lord is his portion.
The Lord is good.
The Lord provides salvation.
You see, if we wait on our circumstances to change in order to assure and secure our hope, we will be disappointed, in fact, we will be ruined.
Oh that our sons and daughters would learn to anchor their hope in Jesus Christ and not in the things of this world. Seasons change, leaders come and go, finances grow and weaken, relationships falter, but God is ever-present and strong. If our hope is in Him, we have nothing to fear! If they’re waiting on something other than God to solidify their hope and bring contentment, they will wait a lifetime being unsure and unfulfilled and they will cultivate an erratic rollercoaster of emotion and insecurity. Because if our hope and peace are reliant on things of this world, we will never have either.
God made this clear in His covenant with Abraham. God swore on the only unchangeable thing- Himself, to assure Abraham that the promise would be sure and true. He would make Abraham a nation. But that served as a clear message to all who would come after, that God’s unchangeable nature is the one thing that makes our hope as believers secure.
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (emphasis added) Hebrews 6:13-20
As believers in Christ, we are the heirs of what was promised. We have fled to take hold of the hope set before us. The hope of redemption, forgiveness, mercy and grace, and an eternal inheritance with God in His Presence. THAT is our hope! Do we live like it is or are we shattered by what we see and experience? Do we wring our hands as if there is no rescue available? Do we live as if this world is our destiny? If so, we’re in that storm-tossed dingy, anchored to nothing stable. But if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our eternity is secure. This life is temporary. We are here to do what He calls us to do for the short time that we have. Our hope is anchored firmly and securely.
What are our children holding onto? In who or what is their hope anchored? Let’s pray that they gain perspective and the right understanding that Jesus is their hope and anchor. Let’s pray that they begin to enjoy the stability offered by God that, no matter the circumstances, His love, compassion, faithfulness, goodness and salvation are unchanging and that He, alone, is their portion.
““Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jer. 32:17) I know that You can change (name)’s heart and perspective to recognize and believe, with conviction, that You are the only anchor they need. Lord, speak to (name) today. Make Yourself real to them. Show them the unchangeable nature of Your character so that they stop trying to put their hope in circumstances and other people and firmly anchor their hope in Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior. Father, I know this world is getting darker and the enemy is seeking to devour anyone and everyone he can before he is cast away. Lord, I pray that You would protect (name) from deception. Protect them from despair. Provide their mind and heart so that even in difficult circumstances or painful events, You are the anchor that holds them steady. Protect them from drifting spiritually and ensure they remain firm in their conviction and understanding of Scripture. Lord, give them a hope that is anchored in You so that others can see the testimony of belief, trust, and confidence in Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Prodigal Prayer
“Lord, (name) is not walking with you and has a ‘flimsy hope’ that is dependent on circumstances and things of this world. They are continuously disappointed, disillusioned, and lost because nothing brings hope. YOU are the hope they need. I pray that You would make Yourself real to (name). Show them Your mighty hand. Make Your Presence known. Nothing is too hard for You. Help me to cling to You, my anchor as I wait. I know that my timeline is different from Yours and You are Lord of the clock, the calendar, and of our very existence. You made a covenant with Abraham long before I was born, yet I was on your mind when you promised him a nation. Lord, help me to rest in Your strength and sovereignty. Bring (name) to repentance and salvation so they are anchored in Christ, and nowhere else. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”
~Pray without ceasing
Are you looking for a resource to help as you pray for a prodigal. Do you know someone battling in prayer for one who is wandering? Consider reading 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, a great resource to help you pray for one who needs to come to faith in Christ!
And check out the companion journal too!
Find both the book and journal on Amazon!
