The Power of Hope

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation;

he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my

salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,

and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge

for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8) 

Hope is one of the great words of the Bible, of the Christian religion, and of life. The experience of hope

is common to all human beings. The spiritual leaders of Israel in Old Testament times centered their hope in

God, in God’s Word, and in God’s mercy. Hope is one of the grand words of the New Testament; one of the

essential components of the Gospel of Christ. The New Testament speaks of “the God of hope,” “the hope of

the gospel,” “the hope of salvation,” “the hope of righteousness,” “the hope of eternal life,” and “the hope of

glory.” Hope is a Christian virtue, an abiding spiritual reality, the ultimate goal and reward of the Christian

experience. It is “a living hope” based on Christ’s saving death, triumphant resurrection, and heavenly

exaltation.

In everyday life, we are all creatures of hope or “prisoners of hope,” as Zechariah says. Each day our

desires, hopes, and expectations are centered on certain people, events, objects, or goals. Quite frequently, our

hopes are deferred; sometimes, they are dashed to the ground, and often, by the goodness and mercy of God,

they are abundantly fulfilled. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom

also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not

only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience;

and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; [does not disappoint] because the love of God is shed

abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due

time, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:1-6)

We must learn to cultivate hope as a Christian grace, knowing, as the Apostle says, that “endurance

produces character, and character produces hope;” and that “if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it

with patience.” Above all, we need to hold fast to “the hope set before us,” which is a “sure and steadfast anchor

of the soul,” a hope that assures us of heavenly glory and life eternal.

And lastly, we need to confirm personally that all our hope and expectation is from Almighty God. And

then there is the great need to hope in the promises of His Word trustfully and patiently while we steadfastly

cherish this great hope of the gospel of Jesus our Lord.

Francis Mason

Pastor Mason