Remember when you were a child and made a wish on the first star that appeared in the evening sky? \u201cStar light, star bright\u2026I wish I may, I wish I might\u2026have the wish I wish tonight.\u201d And how many birthday candles have you blown out, with friends and family urging you, \u201cMake a wish!\u201d?<\/p>\n
Once adulthood arrives, \u201cwishes\u201d are often relegated to daydreams or packed away as silliness. But hope\u2014ah, that\u2019s something else entirely!<\/p>\n
Hope is the cord that connects us to God, the very thing that enables God to work in our lives. Repeatedly the Psalmist points to the power and benefits of hope. \u201cNo one who hopes in you [God] will ever be put to shame\u201d (Psalm 25:3). \u201cThe eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love\u201d (Psalm 33:18). \u201cWhy, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God\u201d (Psalm 42:11).<\/p>\n
Hope goes beyond wishing; hope is believing, expecting, anticipating a reality yet to come. Here\u2019s how hope can help in your<\/em> life:<\/p>\n Hope heals. <\/strong> Hope anchors your faith. <\/strong> Hope is a gift from God. <\/strong> Claim God\u2019s promise of hope\u2026today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remember when you were a child and made a wish on the first star that appeared in the evening sky? \u201cStar light, star bright\u2026I wish I may, I wish I might\u2026have the wish I wish tonight.\u201d And how many birthday candles have you blown out, with friends and family urging you, \u201cMake a wish!\u201d? Once […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":30506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[394],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[552],"class_list":["post-23732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-verses-about-hope"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nJust as your body needs rest to recover from hurt or injury, so does your wounded spirit. When life\u2019s troubles surround you or the future looks bleak, \u201cFind rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him\u201d (Psalm 62:5). Hope makes strong. Hope enables you to develop spiritual muscles to combat whatever comes your way. \u201cEven youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength\u201d (Isaiah 41:2). \u201cBe strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD\u201d (Psalm 31:24).<\/p>\n
\n\u201cNow faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don\u2019t see\u201d (Hebrews 11:1). Raise your eyes above everyday woes and look to your Divine Helper.<\/p>\n
\n\u201c\u2018For I know the plans I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord. \u2018Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future\u2019\u201d (Jeremiah 29:11).<\/p>\n