HOPE AGAINST HOPE (PART 1): THE WAITING SEASONS

Text: Romans 4:18-22 (NKJV)

 ^{18. who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21. and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (NKJV)}.’

Life inevitably brings us to moments where hope seems unreasonable. God’s promises may feel distant, and circumstances around us may scream defeat. It is in these moments that we are called to believe, not just in ideal situations but “hope against hope.” One remarkable example is the story of Abraham, the father of faith, who clung to God’s promise when there was no logical reason to.

One of the greatest assets of a man is one with HOPE. Conversely, one of the deepest tragedies is to lose HOPE entirely.

Proverbs 13:12a – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick’’ (NKJV).

Though the word hope may sound ordinary, it carries extraordinary weight and spiritual responsibility in our lives. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is having a confident and unwavering expectation in the integrity of God’s promises. It is waiting with the expectation of what God wants to do in every season of your life. While FAITH accepts the gift of God’s promise, HOPE confidently expects and patiently waits for the fulfillment of the promise. There is a strong correlation between Hope and Wait. I like to ask how many of us love the word hope and how many love to wait. I often reflect on this in the context of my own life.

My husband, a Pastor, spends most Saturday nights into early Sunday mornings in vigil, preparing his heart for the day’s service. Every Sunday, he wakes me with prayer, then I shower before him, though somehow, he’s always ready before I am (ladies, you may relate!). What’s notable is that while he waits, he doesn’t sit idly; he studies, prays, and fine-tunes his sermon. His waiting is active and intentional. If I’m honest, that is not my strong point; I love to wait when I know it is for a short time or at least a time frame, but when I cannot control the time, I lose it. Isn’t that the reality of many of our lives? We crave clarity; We want to know why, when, how, and we want to be in control of everything. I love how character, strength, and perseverance are produced in me during my waiting season. Don’t tell me you are patient until you are in a position where you cannot tell how long you must wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise or your expectations to be met. In this moment, we are called to a place of release while trusting the one who can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ever ask or think.

Hope helps you see what others cannot; it is the anchor, the stability, and the mainstay of God’s promises concerning you. It is the action word that moves faith. I know we speak about the woman with the issue of blood and how great her faith was, but hope moved her faith;

‘for she thought, if I can just touch His robe, I will be healed’ (Matthew 9:21 NLT).

Hope helps you see your result and destination before you get there. Hope reveals the version of yourself that nobody else could have imagined you to be.

Hope is not believing in ideal situations but holding on to God’s promise when there is no reason to do so. The three Hebrew boys had an assurance that God can deliver them, but they went further to say even if He doesn’t deliver them, they will not bow to a golden image made by human hands. Hope is beyond emotions; it is beyond having evidence; Hope is that you solely depend on God’s character and His word’s immutability. We don’t hope because our circumstances are palatable and good; we hope because God is good.

2 Timothy 2:13b – “He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (NKJV).

Abraham had every reason to give up on life and give up on God; he was already 100 years old, and Sarah was 90, far beyond the age of childbearing. Her womb, scripture says, was “as good as dead” (Romans 4:19 NKJV). Still, he hoped against hope. This kind is beyond time frames, emotions, or any evidence. Abraham had to learn to depend solely on the character of God. Maybe you’re in a place right now where everything seems hopeless: job loss, bad medical report, a broken relationship, a miscarriage, a disappointment, a betrayal, or an unanswered prayer, and you are tempted to lower your expectations or walk away altogether. Remember this: the same God who brought life to a dead womb and even called forth our Lord Jesus Christ out of the grave can breathe new life into you and your situation.

Two questions for our self-reflection:

• Are there areas of your life where you have set deadlines, and what do you do when they are not met? 
• Do you believe God can do what He promised, even when you don’t see a way out? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I ask that you help us to trust you beyond what we see or know, and when our hope feels distant from us, allow us to go back to what your word says concerning us in Jesus’ name, Amen.