Do you know it is possible to hope even when there is no hope? I was stunned by this discovery as I was once again reading the fourth chapter of the letter to Romans. That’s where Paul reminds us of Abraham as an example of faith. How Abraham did not focus on his impotence but on God’s competence.

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping (NLT).
Hoping against hope, he believed (NRSV).
For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith (AMP).
When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. (MSG)
(Romans 4: 18)

There’s no way we can hope when everything is hopeless if we are not in Christ. The only way to hope against hope is by believing. Abraham just trusted, believed and had faith. He had hope even when there was no reason to hope. Because he did not base his hope on him and his abilities but on God and his capabilities.

And it was not Abraham who did anything, it was all God. The same way we can trust God and hope in faith. It does not matter how hopeless everything looks like, we can believe anyway. It does not matter that human reason is gone, hoping against hope is possible when we believe.

Because God is almighty.
Because God is able.
Because God keeps his promises.

And if we really believe and hope in faith, we can praise God while we wait. If we truly trust God and have faith, we can embrace what God is doing and not to try to force our own ways. If we’re truly hoping against hope, we are free to delight in the Lord even in darkness.

Because we know the dawn will come.
Because we know God can and he will.
Because we can count on God.

So let’s believe and hope in faith no matter what.

Because God is on our side.
Because God is in control.
Because God has a plan.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you giving us everlasting hope in Jesus!
Strengthen your voice in us
so we would never waver in hope.
Because you are more than our troubles.
Because you are on our side.
Enable us to always hope in faith.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you hope in faith no matter of what? What does help you to hope even when there is no reason to hope?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live, move and hope in faith!

Photo courtesy of Aaron Burden, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Thought-Provoking Thursday, Faith-filled Fridays, Faith in My Fridays and Five Minute Fridays.