Connecting Faith With Hope

Is there a connection between faith and hope? Yes! It’s always available to us; and we may all be able to site examples in our own lives when we’ve experienced this wonderful connection. Here’s another example to further encourage you.

In the Gospel of Mark account of the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:37-44), we find such a strong revelation of the woman’s hope to be healed, her faith, and God’s answer through Jesus. Because of her physical condition under Jewish laws, she shouldn’t even be where others were. She had to exhibit hope just to get closer to Jesus in the crowd. Note she was hopeful (full of hope), and she approached Jesus with her declaration of faith: “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Is there anything too hard for the Lord? No. She had heard of God’s goodness in Jesus and how He had compassion on people in need. She had heard of Him healing many people. Therein was her hope. She continued to tell herself the life-changing truth: if she just touched his clothes, she’d be well, whole.

Her healing began with hope. It grew as her faith – trust – in God’s goodness grew. She didn’t water down her faith by continually telling herself “I must have faith”. She wasn’t conscious of her faith or lack of it. What was she conscious of? Jesus and His goodness. So, through hope and based on her faith, she acted, touching the hem of Jesus’ garment.

What happened? She was healed! In simplicity, she saw Jesus in His grace, and Jesus saw her and affirmed her faith by stating the truth that changed her life: “Daughter, your faith has made you well [whole].”

Whatever your need, focus on Jesus and His finished work, and your hope will further build your faith and you’ll see His goodness and healing in your life.