"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12 (NIV)

 

On last week we discussed that while there are many things that our enemies might try to take from us, WE CANNOT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE OUR love, joy, hope, and peace. We discussed that despite what we stand against and who stands against us, we cannot relinquish our trust and faith in God. We cannot allow anyone nor anything to cause us to give up on whatever it is that God has promised us. While there are many things that people might try to steal from us or deplete us of, there are some things that WE CANNOT SURRENDER TO THEM! 

 

Life can be hard. Trials are often difficult. We deal with some very real emotions in response to the things that we experience. We might become stressed, overwhelmed, fearful, bitter, angry, remorseful, disappointed, weary, and disheartened amongst other emotions, BUT WE MUST FIGHT TO MAINTAIN OUR PEACE. WE MUST FIGHT TO MAINTAIN OUR JOY. WE MUST FIGHT TO MAINTAIN EVERY SINGLE FRUIT THAT GOD GRANTS US AS BELIEVERS! If we reflect on Galatians 5, Paul expounds on the fruit of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (KJV). Apart from this fruit, within scripture, Paul also urges us to maintain our hope and to be consistent in prayer. All of these things are ones that CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US UNLESS WE ALLOW THEM! In order to fight for these things, we must understand that the fight is not with our enemies nor our circumstances, but the fight is within OURSELVES. 
 
Let's Explore!

 

In Romans 12:12, Paul urges us to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer". Hope, patience, and prayer. These are all things that we might often struggle to maintain when faced with pain, trials, sickness, affliction, and sorrow. The truth for many of us is that when life brings about the unexpected and when trials stampede upon us, hope seems too distant of a thing to grasp. Our patience is overpowered by our need to "GET OUT" of what we find ourselves in and where we find ourselves at. And prayer might be difficult because we can become so overwhelmed with emotions, that fear, doubt, uncertainty, and grief puts us in a state in which we don't take it to God because we don't know what to ask Him for. Some situations are so overwhelming that we remain stuck in the announcement and hello of these unfortunate things that have welcomed themselves into our lives. Therefore, we don't bother to pray about these things because we don't know what we want or what we need. At times our hearts can be in such despair that although our hearts are screaming "HELP", the rest of us are too numb and beyond confused to pray about what we have not been able to grasp. And at some point, as we become buried in this 'thing' that we are facing, we begin to lose our prayer life, our patience, and thus goes our hope. 

 

Whether it be the fruit of the Spirit, hope, or a consistent prayer life, none of us are going to naturally master these attributes. It is going to take work. It is going to require consistent effort. We might be able to perfect these attributes amid certain circumstances yet struggle to replicate any of them during others. Therefore, it is not going to just take work and consistency, but it's going to also take A WHOLE LOT OF GOD! We are not going to be able to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer by partially seeking God or by sparingly depending on Him. It is going to take placing our total reliance on God! It is going to take our complete dependence on God to help us to hold on.

 

---------Daniel's Full Reliance------------                                  

 

"Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.

They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you,

Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den.

And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."

-Daniel 6:21-23 (NIV)

 

Daniel praised amid despair. Daniel patiently waited in the lions' den for God to set him free. Daniel prayed to God and trusted that He would deliver him. Daniel understood what it meant to keep his eyes fixed on God. Daniel understood that if he placed his full trust in God, God would answer. Daniel understood the importance of not allowing his hope to sour. If Daniel had allowed his hope to turn to despair, he would not have gotten the same results. Had Daniel allowed his hope that God would deliver him to become depleted, it could have perhaps caused him to be anxious instead of patient. It could have perhaps caused Daniel to trust in man to provide him a way out versus praying and seeking God to do it for him. 

 

Because Daniel delighted in the hope of God, he was able to be patient as he endured. He was able to patiently wait for God versus trying to figure it out for himself. Because Daniel had hope in who he knew God to be, he faithfully took his concerns to God and despite what happened next, he was able to be patient with a full belief that God would respond. AND GOD DID JUST THAT! HE RESPONDED! There was no part of Daniel that wavered. There was no part of Daniel that doubted. Before Daniel could act from a point of flesh he took it to God. Daniel allowed his spirit man to take the lead. After Daniel prayed, he did not allow his hope to be shaken by the immediate outcome but he kept looking forward to what lied ahead. 

 

While Daniel was able to remain joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer, many of us ARE NOT THERE YET, but HOW DO WE GET THERE?

 

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--------Job's Hope?----------                                  

 

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?"

-Job 6:11 (NIV)

 

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face."

-Job 13:15 (NIV)

 

"Where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?"

-Job 17:15 (NIV)

 

"I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread."

-Job 23:12 (NIV)

Job's story is an interesting one. Job struggled with hope. Job had hope and at the same time began to question if there was any point in him having it. Job had began to question where exactly was it that hope would lead him. In not knowing what his end would be, Job began to think that it would be better for God to take his life. Job questioned that if he was going to come to his demise, would it not be better for God to do it and be done with it versus him having hope and patiently waiting for his demise to come. Job was becoming impatient because he did not know if hope would serve him any purpose if it was God's plan to destroy him. And for that reason, Job was tired of sitting and waiting for the worst-case scenario. However, he kept seeking God.

 

Though Job struggled with having hope towards a positive outcome, he did not relent from his hope in who he knew God to be. Job knew that God had an answer concerning why these unfortunate circumstances were forced upon him and he also had hope that God would vindicate him from any accusations that he had brought these trials upon himself. It is interesting that even when Job was losing hope in any chances of a pleasant outcome concerning his situation, he was not relinquishing his hope that God knew him, that God was in control, and that God would confirm that he had done no wrong. Even as Job endured, he would not depart from the commands of God. Job treasured the commands of God and the words of God more than food itself. Job understood that his obedience to God and his belief in the words of God could sustain his life more than food ever could. Job might not have had hope or patience concerning the impact that his trials would have on his life and his body, but he was hopeful that God knew the whys and he was going to be patient enough to await an answer even if he had to defend himself to God's face. The story of Job brings us to this very important question, "WHERE DOES OUR HOPE LIE?".

 

-------Joyful in Hope: Where Does It Lie?--------                                 

 

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."

-Jeremiah 17:7 (KJV)

 

If we were to reflect on Job's feelings of hope concerning his situation, it would cause one to ponder how is it that Job wrestled with hope yet trusted God. If we trust God, does that not mean that we also have hope concerning the outcome of our situation? And this is what we must come to understand. Our hope should not be rooted in the outcome, it should always be rooted in God. What does that mean? Consider Daniel 3:17:18, which states:​

 

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (NIV).

 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not place there hope in an outcome, they placed their hope in God. The Hebrew Boys acknowledged that WHETHER OR NOT they were thrown into the fiery furnace, God was able to deliver them. They also acknowledged that even if it was God's choice not to deliver them, they still would not bow to any god besides their own. The Hebrew Boys understood that regardless of how God chose to work it out, it would not change what God could do neither would it change who they knew God to be. The outcome would not change their hope in God.

 

Job reverenced God as being in control of all things. Job felt that it was God who had inflicted and brought this despair upon him. And since Job thought that it was God that inflicted it upon him, he also thought that God had done it with the intent of  causing him harm. Job had no hope in his ability to control the hands and intents of God. Job understood that no one is mightier than God so his succumbing to his feelings of hopelessness concerning his ability to change his situation was because in his mind, "God was going to do whatever it was that God wanted to do, and no one could stop Him". This is why Job's hope in being brought out of despair was as it was. Job had no hope that he had the power to change his situation but RECOGNIZE that JOB ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GOD HAD ALL THE POWER.

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It is easy to look at Job and consider his feelings toward hope to be completely negative, but Job was still trusting God. Although Job had no hope in what he could do and although Job had no hope in what he could change, Job trusted in who God was and he trusted in what God could do. We are taught to always hope for the best. We are taught to think positive. And while this is indeed true, we often confuse what we want to happen for "the best". We often confuse what we want to happen as "the positive". Therefore, we consider things that don't work according to how we want them to as "a negative". When things work the opposite of what we desire, we give up on hope thinking that it never works in our favor. And this is why we all struggle with hope at one point or another.

 

-------Defining Hope--------                                 

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Hope is defined as:

• to cherish a desire with anticipation,

• to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence; to believe, desire, or trust,

• something good that you want to happen in the future,

• the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled,

• something in which one's expectations are centered,

• to want something to happen or be true,

• optimism.

 

In looking at the definitions of hope, most of these definitions are based on our obtaining what we want. This is why when what we want appears to be unattainable, we lose all hope. If we reflect back on Job's question of “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?" (Job 6:11. NIV), the answer to that can be found in Jeremiah 29:11, which states: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Our hope must rest in God. We have no control over some of the situations that we find ourselves in. There will be things that we are faced with that we cannot remove, shift, or alter. We don't have the ability to live a life free from trouble. We don't have the ability to live a life free from pain. We are going to have hardships. Therefore, the turn that we want things to take will not always occur and the path that we want to travel will not always be ours to choose. 

 

Even if Joseph had hope that his brothers would never do him any harm, even if he had hope that he would not be sold again after his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites, and even if Joseph had hoped to not have to leave Potiphar's home, it was not going to change God's plans for him. Joseph still had to be thrown into a pit, sold by his brothers, sold to Potiphar, lied on by Potiphar's wife, and placed in prison because God had already purposed these things with an expected end which were based on what His plans for Joseph were. 

 

We see that Joseph's hope was not based on the outcome of his circumstances but it was based on who God was to him. Despite where Joseph found himself, he never lost his reverence for God. Joseph was able to keep moving forward faithfully because he understood that God had a plan. Joseph chose to place his hope in God's plan for him and not his plan for himself. We will always struggle to be "joyful in hope" if our hope is rooted in our own desires.

 

We are supposed to be in expectation of what it is that we have asked God for. We are supposed to believe that God will grant us our hearts' desires, because He will. However, the root of our hope still must be in God. If Joseph's hope was in the outcome, he would have thrown in the towel after every setback. If Joseph's hope was in his brothers perhaps feeling guilty and coming to find him, he would have been disappointed and might have given up. But when we are able to place our hope in God, even amid despair, disappointment, heartbreak, turmoil, and whatever other emotions that vex us, we can keep pushing and looking forward because we know that some way, somehow, GOD WILL WORK IT OUT! When we place our hope in God, our hope is not rooted in our own desires, but it is rooted in what it is that God has told us that He desires for us. God told us in Jeremiah 29:11 that his plans for us are to prosper and not to harm us, giving us hope and a future. This means that despite what comes against us, it is not God's plans to harm us and leave us hopeless. God's plans for us are always to prosper us and give us something to look forward to. When our hope is rooted in who God is and what it is that God desires for us, WE KNOW THAT HE HAS TO FULFILL THAT DESIRE because God can't work in opposition of His own plan.

 

"But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish."

-Psalm 9:18 (NIV)

 

"In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause."

-Psalm 25:1-3 (NIV)

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"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."

-Psalm 62:5-6 (NIV)

The highlighted verses above are from Psalms 9, 25, and 62, which were all written by David. David often found himself in distressful situations. David was a warrior. David was a king. David fought many battles which means that he stood face-to-face with many enemies. David quite often found himself under attack. However, amid these occurrences, while David wanted a positive outcome and while he hoped for things to work in his favor, his hope was rooted in God. 

 

In Psalm 9, David's desire was not to continue in affliction but the root of his hope rested in the fact that God cares for the needy and would never allow the afflicted to perish. 

 

In Psalm 25, David's desire was not to be put to shame however, his hope lied in the fact that God never puts to shame those who trust and place there hope in Him. 

 

In Psalm 62, David's desire was to find rest, but his hope was in the fact that because God is our rock, our salvation, and our fortress, we find rest because our hope lies in who God is and not in what we are facing. 

 

Let's go back and reflect on the definitions of hope:

• to cherish a desire with anticipation,

• to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence; to believe, desire, or trust,

• something good that you want to happen in the future,

• the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled,

• something in which one's expectations are centered, <-----

• to want something to happen or be true,

• optimism. <-----

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Based on these definitions that means that concerning David's hope:

• David had anticipation for those things that he desired

• David looked forward with confidence concerning those things that

       he asked God for and that he needed God to do; David trusted God​

• David wanted his circumstances to work for his good

• David knew that God would fulfill his desires

 

These next two definitions of hope are significant as we apply them into the context of David's hope:

• something in which one's expectations are centered 

(David's expectations were centered on God and who God was)

​

• optimism

(David's optimism rested in what God had done and what God could do)

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God was David's hope. Regardless of what David's desires were, HIS HOPE WAS GOD!

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--------The Center of Our Hope---------                                

 

The general idea of hope leaves things to chance and probability. If we are desiring with anticipation, looking forward with reasonable confidence, having the feeling that our desires will be fulfilled, wanting things to happen, and doing all of those other things that define hope, WHERE IS OUR EXPECTATION CENTERED AND WHO IS IT CENTERED ON? Are we having hope that someone will do these things for us? Are we having hope that we will do these things for ourselves? Are we hoping in government and institutions to make these things that we hope for come to pass? Who and what are we depending on to make things right for us? Who are we depending on to grant us these things that we hope for?

 

Here's what we must understand about hope. It is imperative that our hope rests in God and his omnipotence, omniscience, and sovereignty. If our hope rests in our ability to obtain whatever it is that we want, what happens when we don't receive what we hoped for? If our hope rests in our ability to obtain whatever it is that we want, what happens when we get what we want and it does not give us what we expected or change our lives or circumstances in the way that we thought it would? When we place our hope in God to grant us those things that we desire, He knows if and when we need those things. God knows all the who, what, when, where, and how's concerning our hearts' desires which allows Him to give them to us so that they work to our good and for our good. When we place our hope in God to do it for us, when He does it, we don't have to worry about those desires that He fulfills, working against us. When God is our hope, even if things come against us, THEY DON'T WORK AGAINST US!

 

We never see David hoping in man to grant him what he desired. We don't see David asking God to send man to handle things on his behalf. We never see David asking God to allow man to make a way for him. It was always David asking GOD TO DO IT FOR HIM and leaving it to God to do it in whatever ways and methods He deemed best. Whether it was David asking God not to allow him to be put to shame, to rescue him from his enemies, to vindicate him, to oppose those who opposed him, to bring his enemies to shame, to allow the evil intent and wickedness of his enemies to be exposed and dismantled, no matter what it was, David trusted in the plans, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and power of God. David's hope was in God. 

 

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--------Joyful in Hope---------                                

 

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

-Psalm 33:20-22 (NIV)

 

We have discussed the general definitions of hope. We have discussed the importance of where we center our hope and who we center it on. But if we expound back on Paul instructing us to be joyful in hope, what does that mean?

 

Joyful is defined as:

• experiencing, causing, or showing joy : happy,

• full of joy, as a person or one's heart; glad; delighted,

• full of high-spirited delight,

• satisfied with something or not worried about,

• very happy; causing people to be happy.

 

                                                                               Joy is defined as:

• the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying,

• the state of being that allows one to experience feelings of intense, long-lasting happiness and contentment of life,

• a source or cause of great happiness: something or someone that gives joy to someone,                                                        

• something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.

 

When God is our hope, we can be joyful because we have comfort and peace in who He is and what He can do. We can be joyful in hope because we know that God will not turn His back on us. We can be joyful in hope because we know that God will never leave us. We can be joyful in hope because we know that God will fight for us. We can be joyful in hope because we know that God promises to grant us with our hearts' desires. We can be joyful in hope because God promises to work all things out for our good. We can be joyful in hope because we have the word of the Son promising us that his Father knows exactly what we need, so He therefore does not want us to worry. In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus states, "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"(NIV). We can be joyful in hope knowing that regardless of the circumstance, GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS! There is nothing that we are up against that God is not aware of. When we seek God and put Him as the priority in our lives, He will provide whatever it is that we need even when we don't ask Him for it. Psalm 139:13 reads, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb" (NIV). We can be joyful in hope knowing that the same God who knit us together is the same God who can hold us together despite the turmoil, uncertainties, pain, sorrow, and storms that we might find ourselves in.

 

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---------Joyful in Hope through Christ----------                                

 

"Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.

You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come;

but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

-John 16:20-21 (NIV) 

 

We can also be joyful in hope because of the hope that is found in and through Christ. Although the above scripture involves Jesus encouraging his disciples concerning his crucifixion and death, and the grief and pain that it will cause them, let's look at it from a different facet. Consider the woes of our pain, our grief, and our sorrow. We at some point all find ourselves experiencing grief, hardship, trials, and tribulations. And at times these things make us feel like all hope is gone.

 

In "Restore the Joy "IN" my Salvation", we expounded on the story of Naomi and Ruth. After losing her husband and both of her sons, Naomi became bitter. Naomi felt like God had afflicted her. Naomi felt that when she left her hometown, she was full, but God had caused her to return empty. And because of such, Naomi felt that nothing good could come to her. She felt that hope would serve her no purpose. However, upon the birth of her grandson Obed, Naomi was no longer bitter. The birth of that child brought Naomi a joy that she did not think lied in her future. Naomi had lost her hope in what would become of her, but she still had a belief that God was in control. Although Naomi felt as though God had afflicted her, she did not denounce Him as her God. God showed Himself faithful because His plans for Naomi were to prosper and bring no harm to her, giving her hope and a future just as He promises us in His Word.

 

Ruth 4:14-15 reads, "The women said to Naomi: 'Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth” (NIV). Although Naomi felt like God had left her empty, because He is a faithful God, He did not leave her without a guardian-redeemer. Although Naomi had no hope concerning her future and thought nothing good could come to her, because God is faithful, through her daughter-in-law He blessed her with a son that would renew her life and sustain her. Although Naomi had lost her husband and both her sons, God still gave her love through a daughter-in-law who loved her and was faithful to her more than any son could have ever been. God placed hope into Naomi's life. And he did the same for us.

 

Amidst our grief, our pain, and our sorrow concerning all those things that we can't have, might lose, or have to let go of, we just like the disciples have a promise from the Son himself that joy will be ours after our mourning has occurred. God gave us a Son that will redeem us and renew our lives. He blessed us with a Son that will sustain us. He blessed us with a Son because His love for us is greater than anyone else's love for us. God gave us Jesus as our hope. Therefore, even when we grieve, even when we are sad and disappointed, even when we are disheartened, even when life seems unfair and the way forward looks frightening, all of our grief, sadness, disappointments, heartbreaks, and fear will turn to joy. All of our despair will turn to joy because of that child, Christ, who was born into the world, crucified, died, and then rose with all power and authority in his hands. We can be joyful in hope because of the fact that Jesus overcame. We can be joyful in hope because of the promise, gift, and reward of salvation. We can be joyful in hope because of all those things that we are promised as believers in Christ. 

 

Joyful in  Hope. 

       Jesus is  Our Hope. 
We can be joyful in Christ despite what we are facing.

 

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----------The Hope in God's Purpose-------------                             

 

Proverbs 19:21 states, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails" (NIV). As we stated earlier, even if Joseph had hopes of his own, God's purpose was still going to prevail. Although Job wrestled with hope, God's purpose prevailed. Although Naomi had lost her hope, God's purpose still prevailed. Joseph's brothers had hoped to get rid of him for good, but God's purpose prevailed. Satan had hope that Job would curse God, but God's purpose prevailed.
 
Even when we don't get what we might have hoped for we must not lose hope in God's plan for us. Most importantly, we must accept and hold on to the fact that GOD IS OUR HOPE! We can have wants, dreams, desires, and aspirations, but the hope that surrounds these things CANNOT BE ROOTED IN THE OUTCOME. IT CANNOT BE ROOTED IN WHAT MAN CAN DO FOR US NOR CAN IT BE ROOTED IN WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OURSELVES. ALL OF OUR DESIRES MUST BE ROOTED IN THE HOPE OF GOD! 

 

In Romans 15:13, Paul encourages us saying, "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" (NIV). For every desire that we have, WE MUST TRUST GOD TO GIVE IT TO US and then receive His peace and joy, so that hope can be manifested within us. For every desire that we have, we must trust that God knows what's best. For every giant, fiery furnace, pit, and lions' den that God allows into our lives, we must
trust that God has a purpose and a plan that will ALWAYS WORK OUT FOR OUR GOOD! Paul's sentiment was that as we trust in God, He would then give us joy and peace so that we could overflow with the hope that is given to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Consider this a reminder that we cannot obtain this hope on our own. No one else can give this hope to us. Our hope in God can only be made real within us, by the Spirit of God. If we depend on ourselves for hope, we will waver. We will be swayed and shifted. We will grow weary. We will become faint. THEREFORE, WE NEED GOD to give us hope and to help us to maintain it so that it can then sustain us as we persevere. 

Life is NO JOKE! There are some things in life that have the ability to strip us of any smile that we can possibly muster the strength to make. But in spite of all these things...THERE IS THE GOD OF HOPE! Tears are real. Tears are painful. Tears are heavy. Tears are inevitable. BUT GOD IS MIGHTIER! If we are to be joyful in hope, we must also remember that THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH! When hope seems out of reach, when hope feels pointless, in remembering who God is and what He can do, we can be strengthened by the joy of His infallibility and His grace, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness toward us, BUT WE MUST BOTH CHOOSE AND ACCEPT IT! 

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Hope is a conscious effort! We CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL HAVE IT, although we might not recognize when we are making the decision of whether we will have it, hold on to it, let go of it, or not bother with it at all. There are going to be times in which having HOPE is going to require us to HAVE THE STRENGTH to accept the hope that God is to us. It is going to take strength to accept God's hope because His hope rests in His omnipotence, omniscience, dominion, and sovereignty which means that we must tell Him what it is that we desire and then trust Him to do it His way without interfering while He orchestrates. Our ability to be joyful in hope cannot come about unless we have the ability to trust God.

 

If we don't trust God, then... we won't be joyful in hope
                                            we won't find joy in God 
                                                                   we won't have joy in what God CAN do
                                                                      we won't have joy in what God WILL do...
which means that we won't have faith or expectation concerning whatever it is that we are asking God for.

 

Being joyful in hope is going to rest in our ability to trust God for who He is!

 

Daniel and the Hebrew Boys all had a hope in God in which they knew that God could change their situation on their behalf. They never considered themselves to be under attack by God. They knew that their being placed in the lions' den and the fiery furnace were not because God was punishing them. And because they did not consider what they were being faced with as a punishment from God, they had hope in their outcome. They had hope in what God could do. They had a reverence for who God was. And they wholeheartedly trusted God.

 

However, Job and Naomi did not approach hope with an optimism concerning where they found themselves. And we can understand the realness of why they felt as such. Both Job and Naomi placed all authority in God's hands. Because of their belief in the omnipotence of God and their reverence for his authority, they thought that what they were faced with was punishment. They both thought that God had afflicted them. And because they acknowledged God as the God of all power, they did not think that there was anything that they could do to change their situation. Both Job and Naomi understood that what God says is final. Therefore, they looked at their circumstances and in acknowledging that God was in control, they considered where they were as "final". They were accepting the fact that whatever God had allowed is what was going to be. And while they might not have had the positive outlook concerning how it will end like Daniel and the Hebrew Boys had, THEY BOTH TRUSTED GOD! Job and Naomi might both appear completely negative in thought, but if we look beneath the surface, what they were really doing was accepting what they thought were God's intents for them. They did not understand the plans that God had for them. They did not understand that these plans that God had for them had hope and a future attached to them. BUT OUR FAITHFUL GOD STILL SHOWED HIMSELF FAITHFUL BECAUSE THEY STILL TRUSTED IN WHO GOD WAS! We know that God did not agree with Job's thinking and He corrected him for such, but He also blessed and prospered Job because HE SAW THE TRUST and He knew Job's heart! Our ability to trust God WILL ALWAYS GET HIS ATTENTION.

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When we are struggling with our hope concerning whatever it is that we might face, we must take a step back and ask ourselves, "WHO IS GOD?" Because David understood who God was, he had hope in what God could do even when God did not answer right away. David had a full faith in who God was. David had a full faith in God's promises. David had a full faith in God's words. Because David understood God to be a provider, protector, guardian, shield, stronghold, fortress, comforter, avenger, shepherd, judge, healer, keeper, teacher, and everything else that he acknowledged Him as, he was always able to look with expectation for whatever it was he was desiring of God because the hope of his desires being fulfilled rested in both who and what God was!

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