A HOPE We Can Believe In: Finding the Anchor in God’s Word!
“It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!” – Daniel 2:21 Amplified Bible.
In 2016, right here in the United States I had made a terrible mistake with my finances, driven by the failure to delay gratification and unwise planning. This led my family into a dire situation of near homelessness in the middle of a harsh winter. I vividly remember one night when we were asked to leave the warmth of a hospital reception at 2:30 am. It had become our refuge before heading to work in the morning, where I faced another day pretending everything was fine, with my colleagues unaware of the cold reality of my nights.
That night, we drove to a McDonald’s parking lot, where we huddled in our car, warming it intermittently just to survive until morning. The despair was overwhelming, and it seemed as though there was no hope left.
The Two Kinds of Hope: Which One Will You Choose?
Acts 27:20 Amplified Bible describes a similar situation: “Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm kept raging about us, from then on all hope of our being saved was [growing worse and worse and] gradually abandoned.”
When you’re at the end of your rope, it’s easy to feel like there’s no way out. But I’m here to tell you that there is a hope we all can believe in, even when the natural means of escape are gone. Romans 4:18 speaks of two kinds of hope: the hope rooted in this world and the hope rooted in God’s Word. The latter is the anchor that holds firm, even in the fiercest storm.
God’s Faithfulness: A Way of Escape
First Corinthians 10:13 Amplified Bible reassures us, “No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”
During our crisis, God made a way out. He used a caring supervisor who took us in for three months, providing shelter until we could get back on our feet and secure an apartment of our own. This experience taught me that when all hope seems lost, God is still faithful. He will provide a way of escape, even when you can’t see it.
Standing on the Word: The Example of Abraham
When everything around you is falling apart, don’t quit standing on the Word of God. Romans 4:18-22 (NIV) tells us about Abraham, who “against all hope, in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.'” Abraham’s hope wasn’t based on what he saw around him but on the promise of God. He faced the reality of his situation without weakening in faith and was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.
Don’t Let Your Situation Define You
No matter how bleak your situation may look, don’t let it define you. Instead, let God’s Word become your final authority. Renew your mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:2) and hope continually in His faithfulness to watch over His Word and fulfill it. God will make a way of escape for you, leading you to your wealthy place (Psalm 66:12).
The Anchor of Bible Hope: A Hope That Never Fails
The hope rooted in God’s Word is far superior to the hope of this world. When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot in God’s promises and hold on. He will lead you through the storm, just as He did for me, and bring you out into a broad place of abundance and peace.
Never give up. Your new beginning is just around the corner. Trust in God’s Word and watch Him turn your situation around for good.
