Month: January 2022

We use the word hope so casually in our daily lives – we hope the rain will hold out, we hope we get the job, or we hope we make it to church on time (and let’s be honest, this may be a more desperate hope than others). 

Sometimes, the word hope is simply a substitute for wish. We wish for a good thing to happen, thinking that maybe if we want it badly enough, it will.

But what about hoping in God? This hope is not a passive, fingers-crossed kind of hope. It’s an active, confident, powerful trust in Him. Because when we place our hope in the Lord, we don’t leave our lives up to circumstance. Instead, we hand them over to the God who cares deeply for us and desires to bless us. 

However, even when we hope in God, it’s easy to do so in a somewhat noncommittal way. We may say that we trust Him, yet try to be in control in every area of our lives. Or we express belief in His goodness, but when faced with trials are left feeling let down and disillusioned. 

So, what does the Bible say about where we place our hope? What would it look like for us to truly hope in God? In this post we’ll explore Bible verses about hoping during hard times as well as the reasons for our hope. 

Hope in God

When we trust in ourselves, we rely on something flawed, fickle, and failing. If we try to live in our own strength long enough, we will soon come to terms with our own inadequacy. The fact is, none of us are capable of true, lasting success; placing our hope in our own abilities is a mistake.

Likewise, putting faith in the world or in our circumstances will leave us hurt and broken. We’re counting on something unpredictable, something that does not care for us. 

But hoping in God means hoping in someone who loves us, who was willing to suffer and die for us. It means depending on one who has our best interests at heart. This is a secure kind of hope, the result of trusting in the God who can do all things.

Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;”

Lamentations 3:21-25 – This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I have hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.”

Hope Through Faith 

In order to hope in something, faith is required. By definition, we cannot know for sure if, when, or how we will receive it. We must let go of our need for control and instead patiently wait for the realization of our hopes. 

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

While we have not yet reached the things we hope for, we do know this: the Bible says our hope is not built on something earthly and temporal. It rests in the eternal, living God. 

Thus, though we may not know how every circumstance in our lives will play out, we declare that God is mighty and can perform what He has promised.  

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Jeremiah 29:11 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’”

Hope in Hard Times 

It’s often most difficult to find hope in God during seasons of suffering. Our circumstances may be hostile, the consequences of our actions painful, or our next steps entirely out of our control. And in these moments, it can be so hard to have hope in God.

Being a believer does not mean that we will avoid trials. We still live in a world marked by pain, sin, and death. But the Bible says that in our hard times, God is our hope, strength, and provider. He equips us with what we need to endure.

Romans 5:3-5 – “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Psalm 42:5 – “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.”

A Future Hope 

Scripture tells us that our hope is not in this world, but in the next. This life is temporary, and while it’s easy to be caught up in our daily experiences, we must remember to look forward to the beautiful future that God has promised. 

When that day comes, we will dwell with the Lord. He will wipe every tear from our eyes. We will no longer face suffering but will live eternally in the presence of God. 

No matter our circumstances here on earth, we can endure them well because we know that they will end. We can rest in the promises that God has given us – promises to make all things new, to restore us and bring us into His glory. This is a true, lasting hope. 

Titus 1:2 – “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago”

1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 

Revelation 21:4 – “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Conclusion

It’s easy to fall into the trap of placing our trust in ourselves or in the world, but we know that these will fall short. The Bible tells us where to place our hope – in the only one who’s worthy of it.  

When we trust in the Lord, we can hope boldly and securely, because we have full confidence that He will do what He has promised.

Our hope helps us endure hard times. We know that this world is not our home, and that one day we will live in the presence of Jesus. Nothing on this earth can take that promise away from us, and so we have hope.

Today, we pray this blessing from Romans 15:13 over you:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Bible Verses About Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a common theme running throughout the entire Bible. In fact, the words forgive and forgiveness appear 134 times within the Old and New Testaments (NASB). 

There is no doubt that we serve a God of great forgiveness – a God willing to sacrifice His only Son in order to redeem lost sinners. The overwhelming, undeserved forgiveness that we’ve received from Him can and should guide the course of our lives. 

But what does God’s forgiveness toward us really look like? And what does that forgiveness mean for how we should live now? In this post we address these questions, providing just some of the many Bible verses that teach us about forgiveness. 

WHAT DOES GOD’S FORGIVENESS LOOK LIKE?

God’s forgiveness is freely given. Because we are sinners by nature, there is nothing we can do to be worthy of it. Yet He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. All we must do is repent of our sin and accept the free gift that He provides.  

It is also permanent. Once our sins are forgiven, our slate is wiped clean. We don’t have to worry about God holding anything over our heads. While it may be in our nature to retain past hurts and bitterness, it is not in God’s. 

It is unlimited. God’s forgiveness is not in short supply; it will not run out, and our sin will never be too much for Him. As we repent, He continually extends forgiveness toward us. 

5 Bible verses about God’s forgiveness:

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:12-13)

“Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you…” (Isaiah 30:18)

“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.” (Micah 7:18)

“But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES?

If we’ve accepted God’s offer of forgiveness and have been saved by the death of His Son, our sins have been washed clean. But now what? How should this gift of mercy change the way that we live today? 

A life of freedom and holiness

Firstly, forgiveness means that we are released from sin and shame. This means that we no longer have to bear the guilt of our past mistakes; we are made righteous in God’s eyes. 

But we are not forgiven simply to keep on sinning, disregarding the consequences. Instead, because of our newfound freedom we can pursue righteousness without being held back by the sins that once controlled us. Once forgiven, we’re commanded to “go and sin no more”.

5 Bible verses about our call to freedom and holiness:

“Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord’. And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on, sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6)

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” (1 Peter 1:15)

A life empowered to forgive

God, in His perfect righteousness, has every right to condemn us for our sins. Nothing we can ever do will make us worthy of mercy. But He extends forgiveness anyway. 

In the same way, we – who are nowhere near perfect – must be willing to forgive others. We cannot accept undeserved forgiveness from our Father while subsequently withholding it from those around us. 

But showing forgiveness can be challenging. Thankfully, God is the one who empowers us to do so. We must ask Him to help us show mercy to the ones who have hurt us, because He will!

5 Bible verses about our call to forgiveness:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” (Matthew 18:21-22)

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” (Ephesians 4:26-27) 

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” (Colossians 3:12-13)

SUMMARY

As these verses have illustrated, the gift of salvation is free and ready for the taking. All that’s required of you is to recognize Jesus as your Savior and to ask Him to forgive your sins. 

As believers, we have access to continual forgiveness from God if only we repent. Through the power of Christ working in us, we are equipped to live lives characterized by freedom and holiness. 

Because of the forgiveness we’ve received, we are now charged with forgiving others. God will come alongside us and help us in this, if we simply surrender our anger and bitterness over to Him. The forgiveness found in Him truly has the power to transform our lives.