Day 5 – How to Find Hope In Purpose – Part One?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV).

Biblical hope has as its foundation faith in God. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. For instance, “I hope it will not rain tomorrow.” In addition, the word hope is often followed by the word so. This is the answer that some may give when asked if they think that they will go to heaven when they die. Human beings are the same. If you experience devastating defeats, a persistent situation that you can't change, or a terrifying event that you could not control your exposure to, then you may have lost hope for your ability to change your life or to change painful situations. Sometimes an ongoing mood disorder can lead to feelings of hopelessness. Your faith can be a strong ally in holding on to hope. Sometimes your faith offers the support of not being alone and trusting that a higher power is with you. Being able to see how the steps you are taking will lead to desired change is critical to having hope. Overcoming the unwillingness of helplessness can help you build hope. Others have encountered difficult times, and they will understand. As we grow older, finding our purpose can be more difficult, especially when chronic health conditions require adjustments to how we live. Many of life’s big milestones may be in the past with children raised and the career ladder put away. Our hope needs to take on a different perspective to give meaning and purpose to each day. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NKJV).

Therefore, biblical hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon a sure foundation for which we wait with joy and full confidence. Hope keeps you hanging on because it allows you to believe that things will get better, you have a purpose to fulfill and there is a plan for your life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. We can know Christ in a personal relationship, not by secondhand information or to just know about Him in our heads. God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice. Since life has many unplanned twists and turns, why not let God bring meaning to them, it’s time to find purpose when life is painful and filled with uncertainties. God has plans for us. Plans that will be fulfilling. Plans that bring meaning to life. When we are hurting, we may have trouble grasping these promises. For this reason, we must simply hang onto the truth until we begin to see the bigger plan down the road. God doesn’t give us pain. But He promises to walk with us through our pain and to give us hope for the future. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you” Isaiah 43:2(NKJV).

Keep in mind that hope ushers us forward into our divine purpose. At least from a Christian perspective, purpose is rooted in your God’s divine will for your life. Our hope and purpose should be to glorify God and demonstrate His lovingkindness for our lives. Purpose gives us confidence, encouragement, endurance, hope and perseverance, so when the challenges of life are thrown in your direction you don’t get pulled away in the crosscurrents of life. Hope, though, anticipates that purpose being realized one day in the future: both in part and in whole. Once again, as a Christian, our hope is in heaven and in a glorious resurrection of life made sure by the completed work of Christ. Hope is an aspiration, a faith or belief in something we can’t prove will happen, but we hope for, nonetheless. God knows that we all struggle with finding and holding onto hope. When you are facing tests of faith, even the strongest Christians can find it a challenge to find hope. With hope we move one step closer to wholeness, and without it we are lost. One of lives benefit from the knowledge of a sure promise now but only in the resurrection will that hope finds its culmination. Hope was given to us to keep us from drowning in despair. Hope is a salve, a medicine that eases our pain. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off” Proverbs 23:17-18 (NKJV).