Life can be filled with turmoil, trials, and suffering. In our most difficult times, it’s natural to look for something or someone to place our hope in – something that can give us strength, peace and purpose. As Christians, we know that the one true source of hope is God. But what does it really mean to put our hope in Him? In this post, we’ll explore some key reasons why God alone is worthy of our hope.
Key Takeaways:
- God is always faithful and keeps His promises
- God’s plans are perfect and He works all things for our good
- God gives us strength to persevere through trials
- God provides eternal life and an eternal home in Heaven
- Putting our hope in God draws us closer to Him
God is Always Faithful and Keeps His Promises
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One of the primary reasons we can confidently put our hope in God is that He is always faithful and keeps His promises. The Bible tells us that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and that His Word never fails (Joshua 21:45, 23:14). No matter what we face in life, we can trust that God will keep His promises to us.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 NKJV)
God has demonstrated His faithfulness to us over and over again throughout history. In fact, the pages of Scripture are filled with examples of God keeping His promises to His people.
When God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation, God fulfilled that promise beyond what Abraham could have imagined (Genesis 12:2, 15:5). When God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt as He had told them He would, He continued to provide for them and protect them throughout their wilderness wanderings for 40 years (Exodus 3:7-8; Deuteronomy 2:7). And when God promised David that his descendant would have an everlasting kingdom, this promise ultimately found its fulfillment in Christ (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Luke 1:32-33).
No matter what God has promised us as believers in Christ, we can trust completely that He will bring it to pass. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to “be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” God is ever faithful, and He will never abandon us. His promises are sure.
God’s Plans are Perfect and He Works All Things for Our Good
Not only is God completely faithful, but He is also all-wise and sovereign over everything that happens. We can put our hope in Him because His plans are perfect, and He is able to work even the most difficult trials for our eternal good and His glory.
Followers of Christ know from Scripture that God has promised to work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). But what does this mean? How could disease, natural disasters, persecution, grief, or loss ever be considered “good” things?
Though we cannot always understand it at the time, we trust that God in His infinite wisdom and power can take even the most tragic circumstances and use them to produce blessings, refine character, deepen faith, or fulfill His greater plans and purposes. Joseph spoke about this truth to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 when he said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
The Old Testament story of Job also illustrates this principle powerfully. After Job suffered the loss of his family, possessions, and health, He remained faithful and declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15). Job did not understand why he was suffering so greatly, yet He chose to cling to his faith in God’s goodness and sovereignty. And so the Lord blessed Job with even more abundance than he had known before.
We may not always comprehend God’s bigger picture, but we can have complete confidence that His plans are perfect and He is able to work even life’s difficulties for our eternal welfare. As Romans 8:28 promises, for believers God causes “all things” – not just some things – to work together for our spiritual growth and His glory.
God Gives Us Strength to Persevere Through Trials
Not only does God work for our eternal good, but He also promises to walk closely with us through our trials and give strength so that we can persevere. We can put our hope in Him as an ever-present source of help, comfort, and endurance in hard times.
In Psalm 46:1, God assures us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Over and over again in Scripture, God reminds His people that He does not leave them alone in their most difficult seasons of life. He will give us the courage, faith, power, and endurance to remain steadfast even when our circumstances seem overwhelming.
Isaiah 40:29 tells us God “gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.” When we turn to Him in our weaknesses, He will sustain and uphold us. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that God assures believers amid our trials, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
God does not always take away our struggles because He desires that we learn perseverance and endurance through testing. But He promises we will never have to face trials alone. James 1:2-3 explains that we should “count it all joy” when we encounter various troubles, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” and maturity.
No matter what hardships we face, we can hope in God’s abiding presence and take joy that He will use trials for our growth if we remain faithful. With Him, we have the power to overcome any of life’s difficulties.
God Provides Eternal Life and an Eternal Home in Heaven
Not only does God give us hope and help for the trials of this earthly life, but He also provides the hope of eternal life with Him after death through faith in Christ. Our eternal destiny in heaven gives us an anchor for our souls throughout any temporal suffering here on earth.
The book of Titus says Jesus Christ “has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (Titus 1:2). Only through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection can we receive forgiveness and cleansing of our sins and gain access to eternal life with God. But for all those who put their trust in Him, Jesus promises this heavenly inheritance.
In John 11:25, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” For believers, physical death is not the end. Just as Christ conquered the grave and rose to life again, He promises that all who believe in Him will also one day experience resurrection to eternal life.
The hope Christ provides reaches beyond just our existence after death. He promises for believers an eternal home where there will be no more pain, sickness, tears or death (Revelation 21:4). Imagine a place of perfect joy in God’s presence! No matter what we suffer here and now, we can set our hope on an eternity of complete wholeness, comfort, and peace in heaven.
The trials of this life are brief and light compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits all who trust in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:17). When we struggle with present difficulties, we can set our minds on the hope of our future heavenly home.
Putting Our Hope in God Draws Us Closer to Him
Why does God allow His children to endure trials and hardship? One key reason is that He wants to draw us closer to Himself. When we walk through sufferings that are beyond our ability to handle alone, we learn to lean on and put our hope completely in God. Difficulties teach us to cling tightly to Him as our only true source of peace, strength, and joy.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of how God’s children can sometimes drift from Him and put their hope in other things beside Him. In Lamentations 3:25, Jeremiah wrote, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” As believers, we have the choice: will we seek God wholeheartedly and put our hope in Him alone, or will we drift to find comfort in other things?
Trials have a way of humbling us and reminding us how desperately we need God. In our pain, we are drawn back to seeking Him like we should. Psalm 147:11 tells us that God “takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” When we fear God in reverence, awe and obedience, recognizing His power and trusting His goodness, we find pleasure in His presence. We discover the joy of hoping in His mercy rather than things of this world.
Putting our hope wholly in God aligns our hearts to His heart. Hoping in Him means desiring what He desires: for His glory and eternal purposes to be accomplished. When we stop seeking after our own plans and agendas and instead seek after God Himself (Matthew 6:33), we find purpose and fulfillment. We become vessels He can use for His good.
Yes, difficult seasons summon us to honestly cry out to God in grief, pain, doubt or sorrow. But as we turn to Him, we also choose to say along with Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15). God uses our trials to draw us close, until our hope is firmly anchored in Him alone.
And this hope in God never disappoints. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Conclusion
Life holds many unknowns, and we simply cannot foresee or control what tomorrow may bring. But for the followers of Christ, we can confidently put our hope in God who holds tomorrow. He alone is worthy of our trust.
God keeps His promises. His plans are perfect. He gives us strength to endure. He provides eternal life in heaven. And He uses difficulties to draw us closer to Him.
No matter what trials we face, we can cling to these unshakeable truths about our God. He is the only sure and steadfast hope that will never waver or fail us, unlike shifting hopes in other people or things of this world.
As Christians, we do not hope primarily for better earthly circumstances. Our highest hope is in God alone – in His faithfulness, goodness and eternal purposes. When we set our minds on Him, He will guard our hearts in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
Life on this fallen earth will always involve sufferings. But we can face any heartbreak or calamity with courage and purpose when we put our hope in the God who holds us securely in His hands. He is our rock, fortress and shelter from every storm. Our eternal hope resides in Him alone.
