hope

I want to share hope with you.

I’ve felt hopelessness and despair so keenly—but there is hope. A hope that stays despite feelings and circumstances.
When I am feeling burdened beyond relief, hopeless and in despair, I remember that — 

Fear comes when I feel insufficent for the future; when I am unsure that I will have what it takes for whatever comes my way. Hopelessness and despair set in when I’ve tried to do it on my own… and realize I can’t. The vicious mental cycle repeats until I’m internally screaming for relief. 

Here’s where hope comes in. Deliverance and salvation doesn’t depend on me; I don’t have what it takes. And the hopeful, liberating thing is that I don’t have to.

The older I get, the more I realize I need Someone to intervene in my life. I need redemption – a new heart and a new mind. On our own, we are headed to an eternity of judgement and God’s wrath in hell. (Galatians 5:19-21) We earned this as a just wage in our insistence to things our own way instead of God’s. (Romans 6:23) We stand condemned. (Gal. 3:10) 

But here’s the beautiful, hopeful part. God’s name is the Redeemer from of old. (Is 63:16) He is mighty to save (Zeph 3:17), and delights in working salvation and deliverance (Ps 18). He is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18) He calls us to come to Him; He will not turn you away. (John 6:37) 

When I didn’t, God took the responsibility for my sin. (Is 53:6) Because there is no forgiveness of sins without a blood sacrifice (Heb 9:22), Jesus died for me. (Rom 5:10) His sacrifice was so pure and perfect that as the eternal God He secured our eternal redemption. (Heb 9:12) Death could not hold Him, and He offers us new life just as He was raised from His own dark tomb. (Rom. 8:11) 

How do I receive this deliverance? Through faith in Jesus. (Eph. 2:8, Rom 3:24, Titus 3:5)  
Not looking to myself to get it together, have what it takes, or try to save myself – but to call out to Him Who has secured an eternal redemption for me; nailed my sin to His cross (Col 2:14), and is willing to work His heart and His mind in me. 

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Eze. 36:26) 

“I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear (honor) me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them… And I will put the fear (honor) of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.” (Jer. 32:39-41)

If you’re in the area, I’d love to invite you to join my family in worship at Faith Baptist Church in Kilgore, TX — we’d be delighted to have you!