HOPE AS A RESERVOIR OF STRENGTH

“But those who WAIT on the Lord shall renew their STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…” – Isaiah 40:31

Believers in Christ can engage the resource of HOPE as a RESERVOIR of STRENGTH: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa.40:31). Regardless of what kind of challenges we encounter, the Heavenly Father is always our Fountain of Hope and Source of Strength, and He would have us know Him as such: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless” (vv.21-23).

Our lived experiences as well as Biblical pattern suggest that Hope is like a Reservoir of Spiritual and Emotional Strength. The more we wait on the Lord, the fuller we are filled with Hope and renewed in Strength. This is the Personal Testimony of the matchless Status of the One in whom our Hope is hinged: “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing” (vv.25-26).

Many people come to the Junction of Despair and Hopelessness – where they feel there is no way out. But, the God of all Hope sustains them, showing them that He still has a purpose for them to fulfil and work for them to do. Hope tells us that God still has a place and service for us in destiny, despite life’s battles and challenges. We discover that the situation is not as dark as we thought and that God has a reason for us to go on living and thriving. Hope is our Reservoir of Strength.

If we are discouraged, rejected, or put down, we look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to return good for evil. Without hope, there is no power to absorb the wrong and walk in love, and the tendency is to sink into self-pity.

If we experience a setback in our well-laid out plan, we get miserable, or if things don’t go as we had envisaged in domestic or business life, for example, we look to the reservoir of Hope for the strength to keep going and not give up.

If we face a temptation to be dishonest, to steal, to lie, or to lust, we look to the reservoir of Hope for the strength to hold fast to the way of righteousness, and deny ourselves some brief, unsatisfying pleasure.

This is the scriptural way things work for the Believer; this is the way we fight for and pursue holiness in the Christian life. This is the biblical way to make our calling and election sure: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (1Pet.1:10).

Whatever the situation might be, there is no benefit to giving in to despair. We should rather wait and rest on God’s Power, Goodness and Love. Instead of complaining or murmuring, trying times are times to hope in God. He’ll meet our needs, and lead us in paths of love and light. As we look unto Jesus and meditate on our Christian Hope, God will fill our reservoirs to overflowing, and deep down in the depth of our souls, the great dynamos of Joy, Love, Power, and Peace will churn with new power for the Glory of God. We’ll mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.