Living with Hope

by Apr 5, 2023Devotional, Easter, The Power of Hope

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)

As part of a family actively involved in the music ministry at church, I grew up memorizing hymns with lines like “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness[1],” “…strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow[2],” and “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow[3].”

Yet as a young adult, when the drama and trauma of life was intense and relentless and what I was sure couldn’t get worse got worse, the hope I sang of in those hymns was clouded over by despair. At my lowest moments, instead of drawing on the truth that Jesus loves me and wants me to live the abundant life, I focused on my angry list of all that God was allowing to happen to me. The more songs and hymns and platitudes I heard, the more I steeled myself against His embrace.

Around that time our single adult fellowship began a study of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. As I worked on the homework each day, studying the verses and answering questions in preparation for the next week’s meeting, my bitter heart began to soften. And as our group learned about Nehemiah leading the rebuilding of the walls around the holy city of Jerusalem, walls destroyed during exile, my outlook on life—my faith and trust—was rebuilt, and my shattered hope was restored.

Each week as we delved into the Scripture, we saw Nehemiah’s full commitment and surrender to God. We saw him unwilling to give in to the opposition, unwilling to stop his service to God, unwilling to allow anything to steal his joy. He lived victoriously and with a full focus on the God he loved and served. There was no room for wavering when he had a single focus and kept his hope in God alone—hope for each day and hope for the morrow.

Nehemiah said “…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). Abundant life is not synonymous with trouble-free life. Abundant life is living in the fullness of joy because of the hope we have in Christ, hope that gets us through each day and awaits an eternity with Him. Abundant life is living in resurrection joy—joy that comes from the hope of our salvation and the victory in Jesus.

 

[1] “My Hope is Built”, Edward Mote, 1834

[2] “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923

[3] “Because He Lives,” Gloria and William J. Gaither, 1971

Day 2: Home With Us

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ Matthew 2:23 (NLT)hen I think of Christmas, I think of home. Home is a place we all long for and sometimes cannot...

Day 1: Present With Us

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. John 1:14a (ESV)he cold night air frosted my breath as my chore boots crunched across the snowy farmyard. On my way toward the goat barn, I paused to look up at the crisp,...

Hope Delivered

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NLT)hortly after having our third child, my husband took a huge leap of faith and left the corporate world to make a career switch.  He had hoped this change...

Hope Deferred

For she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. Matthew 9:21-22 (ESV)o you want to be...

Wishing and Hoping

Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.  Matthew 20:29-34...