The Power of Hope
MUSIC BLOG
09-26-2024
The Power of Hope
Starbucks has their new fall line-up of flavors and of course I had to try one the first week they premiered. Last night I saw a google news blurb that Nov. 3 is the end of Daylight Savings. Aldi has a stack of Pumpkin Pecan cookies at our checkout. (and yes you should get them if you like pumpkin flavored anything!) All of these things are the peripheral signs that Fall is here. The obvious other things are cooler weather, (unless you live in Oklahoma and Missouri, areas that had temperatures over 100 degrees on the first day of Fall), leaves turning colors, shorter days etc. Fall to me is the reward for enduring the heat and stress of summer. No more sweltering days and nights. No more VBS, middle school camp, kids camp or mission trips. Vacations are done and plans are being made for next year. Christmas is not quite here but I know I’d better start getting the musicians ready.
Fall is a “kind of” hope. It’s quieter days, enjoying the outside before the chill and dreariness of winter. I love fall. I love pumpkins, apples, corn mazes, sitting home with friends, apple cider and working in the yard when you don’t feel punished for doing so. Fall is sublime.
Hope is powerful. To hope, according to Merriam-Webster, means to cherish a desire with anticipation. To look forward to a specific desire.
Hope is important for everyone, especially every Christian. Sometimes life is like an endless, burning pitiless summer. There are times when a season of life seems to go on and on with no relief in sight. We long for a day of relief, a day of comfort a day of peace. We know that our eternal destination is all that and more, but sometimes we long for a bit of heaven in our everyday life.
Hope plays a major role in the Christian walk as we anticipate eternal life with our Lord. We long for good things in our daily life as well. We hope for a happy marriage, a better life for our kids and a positive outcome in our work endeavors. Being confident in the love of God fuels this hope in us. We believe that God is in control and has good things in store – in this life and after.
I did an internet search and found a few reminders of hope from God’s Word. I hope they bring you hope like they did to me!
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. — Psalm 33:18, NIV
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you. — Psalm 33:22, NIV
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. — Psalm 71:14, NIV
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. — Psalm 130:5, NIV
The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. — Psalm 147:11, NIV
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. — Psalm 42:11, NIV
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28, NIV
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. — Psalm 119:114, NIV
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. — Psalm 31:24, NIV
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. — Micah 7:7, NIV
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. — Psalm 25:5, NIV
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him." — Jeremiah 17:7, NIV
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 62:5-6, NIV
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. — 1 Timothy 4:10, NIV
But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. — Psalm 39:7, NIV
For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. — Psalm 71:5, NIV
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. — Psalm 146:5, NIV
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. — 1 Timothy 6:17, NIV
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. — Psalm 119:81, NIV
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. — Psalm 43:5, NIV
The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. — Joel 3:16, NIV
Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. — Psalm 130:7, NIV
You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. —Job 11:18-19, NIV
This is more scripture than I usually use, however, the sheer volume of scriptures on hope testifies to our common need for the sustaining power of hope. We all need hope. Maybe just the hope that our children will call, or a friend come by, or to see the sun break through the clouds. God loves you so much and is working right now to bring that perfect example of hope to you. Hope that will bring a tear to your eye and a clump in your throat. Maybe just reading these words from His love letter to you did that. I know it did for me.
Blessings,
Marty