Strengthened in Hope

Introduction

As followers of Christ, we carry a steadfast hope in the promise of a glorious future. One day we will see God face-to-Face. We will worship Him alongside the angels, and we will feast at His banquet in eternal joy. Until then, we are called to nurture this hope by seeking His Presence, prioritizing worship, and choosing perseverance over defeat when challenges arise.

Faith undergirds it all. When life gets overwhelming, we draw strength from God, who promises to sustain and renew us as we place our hope in Him. Endurance fueled by faith enables us to trust that, in everyday situations as well as times of trouble, His faithfulness will see us through.

In today’s study, you will explore God’s promise to strengthen everyone whose hope remains in Him.

Excerpt From Jesus Calling®

I am the culmination of all your hopes and desires. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last: who is and was and is to come. Before you knew Me, you expressed your longing for Me in hurtful ways. You were ever so vulnerable to the evil around you in the world. But now My Presence safely shields you, enfolding you in My loving arms. I have lifted you out of darkness into My marvelous Light.

Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. Receive My blessings with open hands. Enjoy My good gifts, but do not cling to them. Turn your attention to the Giver of all good things, and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in Me. The one thing you absolutely need is the one thing you can never lose: My Presence with you.

Dwell

In Isaiah 40:27–31, the prophet Isaiah addresses the people of Israel (also called Jacob) who were suffering under the difficult circumstances of being exiled from the promised land. The people were falling into doubt and despair, so God sent Isaiah to tell them, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV). These words likewise apply to us whenever we are going through adversity.

Application Questions

1. God wanted His people to know that He would never “grow tired or weary” of enfolding them in His loving arms. In dealing with your circumstances, what does it mean to you to know the Lord will never lose sight of you or “grow tired” of helping you? (See Isaiah 40:28)
2. Why shouldn’t you seek your ultimate rest in anything but God? How will other things disappoint you? (See Psalm 62:5)
3. What are some of the things people are tempted to place their hope in when they fear catastrophes such as war or hunger? Where are you tempted to place your hope when you are fearful? (See Psalm 33:16-22)