Hope Rekindled

Has a difficult situation ever taken you out at the knees, or caused you to start running away? Have you gone through a time when you cried out for help and someone listened, or something happened?

Sometimes it’s in that toughest moment, that a small voice says, “Stop and listen!” If this has happened to you, then there’s a good chance the Holy Spirit rekindled the hope in your life.

Let’s unpack that last paragraph. What is hope? Hope is something that we look forward to but cannot see. Maybe this example will help. Suppose you’re one of those people with your sight set on going to the moon. That’s what you hope for even though you know full well that the chances of that ever happening are slim to none.

Now let’s look at this hope topic from the Bible’s point of view. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NASB1995. In simple terms, we hope for things we haven’t seen and may never see but believe with all of our being. That is the description of a Christian’s walk of faith.

Another big subject when looking at hope is the Holy Spirit. Some people think that sounds “way out there”. Is that a ghost or what those religious fanatics talk about? Well, it isn’t a ghost for sure. Quite the opposite, this isn’t something to fear at all. On the opposite spectrum of fear, the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to be a comforter, to guide and direct. This one-day event, known as Pentecost, was real and took place 50 days after Jesus ascended to heaven. Roughly 120 of Jesus’s followers and His chosen disciples were together in one place when something like a rushing wind entered the room. Simultaneously, they all began speaking in a different language which was the beginning of them sharing with the world. Thus, it is referred to as the birth of the Church. Interestingly when Jesus was still alive, He told the men close to Him (His twelve disciples) that this would happen. Read about Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2.

As a person who accepted Jesus Christ when I was 25, I am very thankful for the Holy Spirit. There are many times, sometimes in one day, that I call on the Spirit (that’s Christian talk for the Holy Spirit) to give me the right words, to direct my feet/path, to give me or someone else guidance. These are just a few examples of how the Spirit is available and comforts.

Let’s answer the previous question. Is this Spirit something that religious fanatics talk about? Well, yes and no. Yes, if a Christian talks about the Spirit this is a healthy sign of understanding their faith journey. Do you have to be a religious fanatic to talk about the Spirit? No, but you can be a committed believer.

The Lord’s Promise: “For it is for this we labor and strive because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” 1 Timothy 4:10 NASB1995.

Reinforced Promise: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.

For You Today: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;” Hebrews 10:23.

This anonymous quote sums up how to help keep hope alive. Your job is to trust God. His job is everything else.