By: Alton Garrison
Faith and hope are similar but distinctly different. In addition to the measure of faith, Romans 10:17 (ESV) declares that faith can grow through the educational process of “hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Faith is more educational hope is more emotional. Faith is related to miracles; hope is more about morale.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 ESV
as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."
Romans 4:17-18 ESV
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 ESV
Hope is a favorable, confident, happy anticipation of good things to come. Hopeful people are happy, generous, and positive. Hopeless people are negative, bitter, discouraged, and defeated.
Satan’s attack is more against our hope than against our faith. It is easier for him to discourage us emotionally than to defeat us Scripturally. Anyone who has experienced loss, sickness, tragedy, or pain will often hear Satan’s lie: “If God really loved you, why would He allow that to happen to you?”
When we lose our wealth, we are hindered. When we lose our health, we are handicapped. But when we lose our hope, we are emotionally paralyzed. When we look at our health, finances, relationships, family situations, or joblessness and all looks hopeless, we must not give up.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?
ACTIVATION
Recognize that God is your source of hope.
Believe you have not lost your faith.
roman 10:17
Write in your journal the emotions destroying your hope. Release those to God and let Him recharge the hope in you.
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