Hope does not disappoint!

One of my favourite scriptures from the time I was a child was Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Surprisingly enough, I never realised what this verse actually meant.

It's amazing how God doesn't just have wonderful things planned for our futures but He also gives us the hope to believe for those wonderful things!

Have you ever had times in your life when you felt like you didn't want to hope for something to happen because if it didn't happen, your hopes would be shattered?

I'm reminded of a situation I was in about two years ago where I was afraid to hope because I didn't want to be disappointed.

I wanted to go on a holiday and had applied for my US visa. Before my interview, I kept hearing negative things from people like "they don't generally give visas to unmarried girls because you might go there, get a job and never come back!" or "you have to have a bank balance of ...". Funny as it may seem, as I kept listening to these things, I didn't want to set my heart on getting that visa. But the day before my interview, I spoke to my pastor's wife and she said she would believe with me not just for my visa to be granted but for a 10-year multiple-entry visa. Suddenly, I was filled with hope to believe for that. And right enough, God worked it out for me.

As Christians, we must hope. We don't have to be skeptical like everyone else. You know why? Because we hope in Jesus. And the best part is -- those who hope in Him will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23). Hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

God wants us to hope, not in our own abilities, wealth or the influence of others (1 Timothy 6:17), but in HIM. He wants us to hope continually like David in Psalm 71:14 - But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Sometimes it's difficult for us to hope for something good, especially when our situation tells us otherwise. In 2 Kings 4: 8-36, the Shunammite woman seemed to have that problem.

She had shown great hospitality to Elisha and Elisha wanted to bless her. So he asked Gehazi what can be done for her. Gehazi then told Elisha that the woman's husband was old and she didn't have a son. So Elisha told the woman, "About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms." But the Shunammite woman had already given up hope. So she said, "No, my lord. Don't mislead your servant, O man of God!"

She did not want Elisha to raise her hopes for fear that they might crash. That's why, when her son died she told Elisha, "Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes'?"

Lucky for Elisha, He had given her a word from God. Therefore, he knew that God would keep His word. And right enough, God raised the boy back to life.

Just like Elisha, when we hope in the Lord, we will never be put to shame (Psalm 25:3).

Don't give up; don't believe the lies of the devil. He wants to rob you of your hope. He wants you to be pessimistic. In fact, he wants you to live in dread, fearing the worst. Don't give into the devil's plan. Keep hoping in Jesus, wait patiently (Romans 8:25) and be joyful (Romans 12:12) because our God never lets us down.