Ways To Give

The Stubbornness of Hope

Written by Becky Toews

Ten reasons to hope.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed….” (Romans 4:18a)

I’m thankful that hope is so stubborn. If it wasn’t, I think I’d be a goner. Many times my circumstances have tempted me to throw in the towel, but each time I find hope popping to the surface and eventually taking over.

Oh, I’ve tried to resist. I’ve let discouraging thoughts smother the “noble, lovely and praiseworthy.” I’ve listened to the whispers of failure more times than I care to remember. I’ve allowed the voice of disappointment to become louder than a scream. But with the predictability of a Hallmark movie, I find that after all my rants and raves, hope stands there quietly waiting. She penetrates my protests with the undeniable assurance that it’s gonna be okay.

It’s a God thing, of course. Scripture compares hope to an anchor (Hebrews 6:19). It attaches us to what is really real, to what is solid. It causes hearts that would otherwise go adrift to dig in to the truth.

Abraham learned this truth about hope. Although he didn’t start out that way, he arrived at that place which required him to “hope against hope.” He had been given big promises — promises accompanied by big delays. These delays stretched him, pushed him to the edge, and disheartened him.  Proverbs 13:12 reminds us that, “hope deferred makes the heart sick.” But in spite of all the waffling doubts he kept hoping.

The stubborn nature of hope arose every time he looked at the brilliance of the night.  He must have seen God’s promise echoed in the sky. When he walked in the endless desert sand he was reminded that God said, “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.” (Genesis 13:16) Whenever he heard his new name, “Abraham,” hope took him back to the time when God told him he would be the “father of many nations”. (Genesis 17:5) Hope bound him so tightly to the word of God that it yielded the indomitable substance we call faith.

It will do the same for us. So go ahead. Give in to the stubbornness of hope.

Father, Remind me that it is safe to hope in You. Your word is strong and Your promises are forever.  My only hope is in You.  Amen

Question: How does Abraham’s stubborn hope impact you today?

5 Responses to “The Stubbornness of Hope”

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• Lebo says:

  May 29, 2012 at 8:02 pm

  Thanks for the devotion Becky. Hope indeed is what enables us to smile through any storm, no matter how dark the clouds. May God continue to use you as you encourage many more.
• val says:

  May 29, 2012 at 9:20 am

  this is so true! I’ve just come through a couple of tough days, frustrated with God letting me swill around in anxiety and “not helping me” and at the point where I was saying “Come on I need some help here and I’m not getting it from You, I might as well just pack in this whole faith thing and go completely nuts”; then, hope comes in and I’m revived and ready to tackle things again.It’s happened again and again. Thank God that hope is even more stubborn than I am.
• Hedy says:

  May 29, 2012 at 8:47 am

  Thank-you for this devotion,Becky.His hope is like no other,for so many years I resisted, but now it gets me up in the morning & takes me through the most difficult of days.
• Debra Tunney says:

  May 29, 2012 at 6:59 am

  Thanks Becky, for this encouraging word today. I needed to hear this and I am sending it to a friend who does as well.
• Beatrice says:

  May 29, 2012 at 6:33 am

  Todays lesson has given me great hope. God never fails. He will meet me at my point of need no matter what happens. He will suirely keep His promise

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