Finding HOPE

They found HOPE! There are many examples of people from both the Old Testament and New Testament who didn’t have any hope. They were stuck where they were, unable to go beyond to better things, a better life. How did they find HOPE?

God told Abraham to take his only son to the top of the mountain to offer a sacrifice (Genesis 22). His son went obediently with his father; meanwhile, Abraham believed God would provide the appropriate sacrifice. And He did. The ram caught in a thicket was the appropriate sacrifice for Abraham who believed God.

Woman with the issue of blood – touched the hem of Jesus’s garment (Luke 8). She had tried everything to get healthy and well with every penny she had. Nothing had helped until she heard about Jesus—He healed people. A sliver of hope blossomed in her heart. Still keeping within the OT laws, she felt if she even only touched his hem, she’d be healed. That hope turned into her miracle. Jesus recognized he had accessed his power and believed, and she was completely healed, never to be sick again.

Zacchaeus climbed up a tree to be able to see Jesus (Luke 19). He couldn’t see over the crowd-or beyond where he was at the time. But he saw Jesus, AND Jesus saw him. Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down because He was going to Zacchaeus’ house. The man changed from a despised tax collector to a believer of Jesus. He had hope once again because of Jesus coming to his house, sitting and eating with him.

After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus spent forty days showing Himself to His believers to prove that resurrection and gave them instructions, HOPE for the future. In Acts 1:6-8 Amplified, the disciples had questions. “So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” What response did Jesus give? “He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” They may not have understood everything totally, but they had hope.

These and many others are examples as encouragement for you and I to find the hope we need in Jesus. There’s nothing too hard for the Lord. He is your hope.