What Is Your Hope In?

We all hope or trust in something or someone. Whether it is God, ourselves, another person, another religion, the stock market, we all live based on that hope. Interestingly, even if our hope is in something specific (stocks for instance) our perception of that affects the rest of our lives.

So what is your hope in? Is it in something (Someone) who can take care of your life? In marriage it is easy to lose hope when life does not go as we think it should, especially if your hope is in your spouse. Maybe your spouse is uncommunicative, disconnected, or even caught in adultery. Maybe you have tried for years to bridge the gap, to break through to them to see how important it is, and yet there does not seem to be any progress (in the right direction). The situation seems hopeless.

You say, “Oh of course my hope is in God. I’m a Christian and I believe all that.” But if you are discouraged and hopeless, are you really hoping in Him or are you hoping in the outcome you expect? God does not disappoint.

Romans 5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 15:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Timothy 1:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,

To put your hope in God means to trust Him implicitly. It means to have faith that His will will be done and is for our benefit not matter what happens. It means to trust Him to take care of the situation and then not worry or be distressed over what happens. Often we are disappointed or discouraged because we are really hoping in the outcome we want God to bring about, not in God Himself. By doing that, we are making ourselves God or lord of our lives and making God into a genie in a bottle that will do as we wish, rather than letting God work, in His way and His time, to bring about His outcome.

Yes, trials are difficult. The situation may look hopeless by human means, but God is the Sovereign Lord of all creation. He has the knowledge and power to deal with everything. Trust Him to carry out His will and leave it at that. Go to Him in prayer and leave your burden at the altar. Don’t lose hope. Remember who the real enemy is, pulling your spouse away from you and bombarding you with discouragement and resentment at the same time. Don’t let him win.