Faith and Hope

The most encouraging words for me lately are ‘faith’ and ‘hope’. So I flipped to the back of my Bible, and looked up those words in the concordance, and I read through the verses that they had list, and here is what I found when I looked up ‘faith’

2 Cor 5:7 We shall walk by faith, not by sight.

That one of those verse that I hear all the time, but when I read it, it hit me. Even though I don’t see why God is doing certain things to me, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a meaning. Even though I think God has forgotten all about me, doesn’t mean He has! God is in control! No matter how big the situation is! No matter how hard you cry, no matter how bad it hurts, no matter how scared you are, no matter how confused you are. God does it all for a reason, and it will all be clear soon. So even though I don’t understand, doesn’t mean it’s not happening for a reason.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God much believe that he is…

Lately I’ve put God on a shelf, and taken him down only if I wanted some. I found my prayers ended up just being ‘Dear God, I thank you for the beautiful day, and keeping us safe.’ Then I begin asking for Him for things. But when I read this verse, I began to think, why do I have such little faith, I thank Him for doing what I wanted, then give him another long wish list. But then the next day I fear. But I need to step back, and tell myself that God is in control, and He is who He says He is. And that I can’t change what He has planned.

Now this next verse caught me off guard.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

Which pretty much brings me back to 2 Cor 5:7.

Now ‘hope’,

Psalms 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.

Rom 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 Tim 1:1 …God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope.

All of these verse are pretty much saying, God is my hope. And if I want I hope, then I need Him.

I really like Psalms 139:7 which says ‘Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

And

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God is with me everywhere, on the highest mountain, to the deep sea, in Arkansas or in Uganda.

And lastly these verse have really helped me through some hard times in my life.

Psalms 2:12 …….Blessed is all those who put their trust in Him.

And

Psalms 30:3 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Next week I’ll try to post some more stories :)