The world today is going through series of unpleasant issues…the coronavirus pandemic brought failing economy in nations, loss of income for individuals and families, failing marriages, and general disruptions to daily life. We do not know when life will return to what we are used to, and all of this makes these times uncertain.
The usual human response to difficulty is fear, anxiety, depression and distress but as believers, we are to be hopeful and have confidence in God. We must understand that fear and anxiety do not come from God.
2 Timothy 1:7: says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
What then is Hope? Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in God’s faithfulness. Hope is the belief that the future will be better than today. When we hope for something, we wait for it with patience; Romans 8:25 says, “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently”.
Who is the center of Hope? 1 Timothy 1:1 calls the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope. Therefore, I would say the person and active word in hope is Jesus Christ. It is Him who gives our hope meaning and substance.
Not long ago, I was expecting something to happen for me, I had prayed and talked to God about it all my life, therefore I was so confident that it was going to happen when I needed it but alas! The time came and it practically did not happen. I was disturbed, anxious, and my spirit was weak. This was a difficult time for me.
Our emotions have a lot of influence on us and anxiety is one of them. Our emotions; for example anxiety, in itself is not a sin. The important thing is what we do with such emotions and how long we allow them to dominate us. Gaining control over our emotions is crucial to living and enjoying the life that God intended for us to live. I learnt to gain control over my anxiety, and now, I have peace that everything works together for my greater good.
So how do we cope when we are faced with so many discouraging issues and where do we find hope in times like these? Knowing that our hope is in Christ Jesus, here is a list of the ways to keep hope alive:
- Praise; David did this in Psalm 42:11
- Focus on God with the expected end in mind; Lamentations 3:19-25
- Remember God’s promises; Isaiah 49: 23
- Remember those who have passed through the same and be strengthened by their faith. Job moved from despair to hope; Job 13:15-16; Abraham in Romans 4:18-25
- Focus on the word of God and be positive. Start the day with prayers, limit the distractions and use the word of God to overcome your fears and anxieties.
Finally, remember that God has a purpose for the storms He allows in our lives. Sometimes, God allows difficult situations in order to reveal Himself to us in a way that we would never have known Him.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.
(by Bukola Olugbade)
