Scripture:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:13
Lesson:
Hope opens doors where despair closes them! We understand throughout our lives that we will continue to encounter hurts and trials that we are powerless to change, but with God’s help, we can be open to allow those circumstances and situations to change us.
H: Hope comes from God
Real hope can only come from God. If we place our hope in people or things, we will come up empty. When we trust in God, our hope is secure. Jesus Christ is our Higher Power! He desires a relationship with us.
O: Open our hearts to allow God to restore all our hope in Him
If we are feeling hopeless, it may be that we have closed our hearts to God. He will not force his love or hope on us. We need to open ourselves and invite Him to work in us.
P: Purpose for our life is found in Christ’s hope
When we discover our purpose, serving God and others, we are filled with hope! God’s power can change us and our situation.
E: Expect and hope for continued new growth and victories!
God isn’t finished with us yet. We have more change and victory to come!
Application:
have been in situations in my life where I have lost everything that I put my hope in: my marriage, my kids, my house, etc. It was in those moments that I realized that if I continue to put my hope in people or possessions, I will continue to feel hopeless. It was when I decided that those things will come and go, but even if I lose everything, I will never lose my hope in God because He will always be there to get me through those moments and will always restore what was lost.
Take a moment to reflect: What are some things or people that you have put your hope in instead of God? What are some steps you can take to put your hope in God instead?
