“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 NIV

 What does hope mean to you? For me, it means expecting God to move. I have hope because, regardless of what I see happening, I know God is in control. I believe God is God and will act accordingly. Sometimes I don’t get to see the good outcome, but I believe it will happen all the same. Those aren’t just words to me. It’s something I have learned to live and that helps me stay anchored in hope.

Are there times when you wander from hope? What brings you back?

Here are a few things to consider that help me remain connected to hope.

God’s promises help me stay anchored in hope.  “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:19 NLT

The promises of God are a lifeline that keep me connected to Him. When I stay connected to Him, I stay connected to hope.

There are times when I feel like I have to figure everything out. I feel responsible for solving the problem in front of me or helping someone I care about by giving them an answer to their dilemma. But I don’t have the answers even though I feel responsible for finding them. When I am looking for answers, I need to turn to God’s Word. What I often find is a promise to hold onto when I can’t find an answer. I remember He is present in my life and my loved one’s life. I am reminded of how big He is, and how good He is, and how faithful He is. Sometimes that is all the answer I need. Then my hope becomes in Him and not an answer.

Remembering His past faithfulness helps me stay anchored in hope.  I made a commitment to walk with Jesus more than forty years ago. Oh, my goodness, that is a long time! In those years I have experienced God’s presence and intervention over and over again. It is difficult to remember all the details. And, honestly, the details are not what you need to hear from me. I can confidently tell you that God is faithful. He does what He says He will do. He will never abandon you. He will never give up on you. He is working, even when you can’t see it.

You may have heard every one of those statements before. Maybe you truly believe them. Maybe you struggle to believe them. Dear Friend, I have experienced each of those truths consistently throughout my forty-plus years of walking with Jesus. You can count on Him to be faithful even when you can’t tell how He will be faithful. That truth is an anchor of hope in the darkest moments.

Keeping an eternal perspective helps me stay anchored in hope.  Years ago, God challenged me to an eternal perspective when a leak damaged belongings we had in storage. As I cried over my stuff, I was reminded that where my treasure is my heart will be, and to store up treasures in heaven. That shifted my perspective. In the end, very little of our things were damaged beyond use. We got to keep most of it. But what I was most grateful for was the shift in my thinking. Being able to look beyond now toward treasure in heaven is of more value than any of the belongings we were able to keep.

 Dear Friend, no matter what is happening in your life right now, you have an anchor. Your anchor is hope. You stay connected to that hope by remembering God’s promises, and His past faithfulness, and by keeping your eyes fixed on the eternal.

 Key Question: How can I stay anchored to hope?

A Scripture to Consider: “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 NIV

A YES Challenge: Make a list of some ways God has been faithful to you in the past. The next time you struggle with hope take time to meditate on that list and re-center your hope in God.  

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for Your promises. Thank You for Your faithfulness. You are the God of hope. Fill me with joy and peace now as I choose to trust You. Anchor me in hope. Amen.