Hope’s Healing Power

In my last message about Hope I told a story that will be forever etched in my mind of someone telling me that getting people’s hopes up was terrible because then their hopes could be dashed.That is someone who was afraid to hope and thought it was safer to simply never hope. Today, I want to share another story related to hope or rather losing hope that is also forever etched in my mind. It was the motivator for me to begin to study hope in the scriptures.

I had flown across the country to sit in the courtroom of a man that I had ministered to in a federal prison. God had worked miraculously in this man’s life and we were expecting the judge to release this man who had been locked up for 4 years and had been considered mentally unstable to stand trial. His mother was there with clothes for him to change into following the trial. It was not to be. 

This judge was not trained in the art of giving hope. There was a technicality that needed to be worked through before the judge could release this man from prison. The judge simply stated the facts without regard to letting the man know that it would just be a little bit longer before the system could be worked through. What it sounded like to the man was that all hope was gone and he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. The man lost hope and began to disrupt the courtroom. He refused to talk to anyone for almost 6 months. Everything that God had done in this man’s life was reversed in one moment. When he lost hope, he made choices and reacted in a way that set him back indefinitely. Hope should not have been in the judicial system. Hope had to have a higher source. His hope needed to be in the Lord. Look at Job 14:7-9Job 14:7 For  there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

I have a tree in my yard that reminds me of this tree. What hope is there for a tree that is cut down and whose roots get old in the earth and dies? None, right? Not this tree. This tree understands the power of hope and never giving up. I’ve tried everything on the tree in my yard. It was cut down about 7 years ago. I have cut off parts of the roots, chopped it below the dirt and

everything I could think of but this tree grows back every year. Someone told me it is called a “Monkey Don’t Climb Me” tree. I don’t know the real name but that name sounds right. This tree has spikes that grow out of it and IT WON’T DIE! People who have hope are like this tree. No, they don’t hurt you with their spikes. They are like this tree because they never lose hope. People who find out they have cancer but who never give up hope have a much greater chance of surviving than those who give up hope. Some have held onto hope only to be disappointed and then determine in their heart to never hope again. These cases are so sad. These same people are often the first to warn people of ever hoping. The logic is that if you don’t hope, you won’t be disappointed. That is right. If you don’t expect anything then you won’t get anything either and then you won’t be able to experience the thrill of the miracles God can and wants to do on your behalf.

Look at the verses below about hope…

Ps 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Ps 38:15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

Ps 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Ps 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in

God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Ps 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Ps 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou

in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Ps 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Ps 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

Ps 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Ps 78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his

commandments:

Ps 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Ps 119:81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

Ps 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Ps 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Ps 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Isaiah 38:18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the

pit cannot hope for Your truth.

Ecclesiastes 9: 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better

than a dead lion.

Abraham had hope in God’s promise even though he was about 100 years old. This is hope contrary to what should be expected. He didn’t look to the circumstances. He looked to God. Romans 4: 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed––God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 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. This passage below is a great one to memorize. Romans 5: 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8: 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. True hope looks beyond circumstances and at HIM. With God, there is hope that is stronger than anything we could possibly be going through. My prayer is that today, your hope would be restored!

God Bless,

Richard