STRENGTH, HELP AND HOPE (2)

“But those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their STRENGTH. They will soar on wings like eagles...” – Isaiah 40:31a (NIV)

The Scriptures present a dynamic link between Divine STRENGTH, HELP, and HOPE: “But those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their STRENGTH. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’ (Isa.40:31, NIV). God’s HELP often comes in the form of His STRENGTH, in response to our HOPE in Him. We’re strengthened to walk, run, and soar by the Power of Hope. But our Hope must be in the Lord! To put hope in anything or anyone else is to invite crushing and devastating disappointment! Those who Hope in God and His promises will encounter His Help by having their Strength renewed to forge ahead into a promising future.

The Resource of Hope is designed to be our Reservoir of Strength. Regardless of the kind of challenges we may encounter, our Heavenly Father is our Fountain of Hope, Ever-present Help, and Source of Strength, and He wants us to 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).

Hope is our Reservoir of Spiritual and Emotional Strength. Hope makes strong. Hope helps us to develop spiritual muscles to combat and prevail over life’s battles. The God of Hope, our Helper and Strengthener is the One Who created and sustains the Universe: “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” (v.26). When we call on God at the Junction of Despair where we feel there is no way out, He’ll sustain us, and prove that He still has purposes for us to fulfil and assignments to accomplish. Hope tells us that God still has a place for us in destiny, despite life’s combats and challenges.

God has reasons for us to go on living and thriving. Hope in Him will prevail over despair, discouragement, rejection, and setbacks, releasing strength to hold fast to the way of righteousness, keep going and never give up. Whatever the situation might be, there is no profit to bowing to fear, anxiety or despair. Instead of complaining or murmuring, trying times are times to Hope in God and receive Help and Strength. He’ll meet our needs, and lead us in paths of love and light. We’ll mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.