Hope Against Hope


Are you currently in a situation that looks hopeless? I mean are you facing financial hardship, underwater mortgage, unemployment with past issues preventing employment, a wayward child, a cantankerous spouse or some other situation that you just can't seem to get out of? Well, if so, you are not alone, and the Bible offers a wealth of scriptures to guide you through your "rock and a hard place situation."

The wealth of scripture is vast on this type of thing, so for the sake of this devotion, I want to turn your attention to Romans 4:18-20.

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Hope against hope, Abraham believed God. In other words, with the odds stacked against him due to his own impotence and the deadness of Sarah's womb, he believed that God would perform what He had promised. This is powerful! Yet, it leaves this question on the table for believer's who are faced with hope against hope situations. Can you believe God in dead situations?

I don't know about you, but I had to ask myself, Can I believe God in dead situations? I mean, let's face it, the rock and a hard place is about to grind you down to nothing and you have exhausted all human possibilities. You can't even conjure up in your mind how God will get you out. You find yourself like, Abraham, Jehoshaphat, Gideon and others and all you can do now is look to God.

This isn't a bad thing either. When you look to the scriptures and see what Abraham, Jehoshaphat and Gideon did, they all looked to God. I like how Jehoshaphat said it in 2 Chronicles 20:18, "...for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee." We have no power against the "hope against hope" situations, nor do we know what to do, but if we would just look to the One who gives us hope we shall see that all hope is not lost.

Abraham received what was promised in his hope against hope situation and so can you. However, in order to receive what you have been promised, you have to do what he did, and that is look to God. You must look to the One who has promised for He cannot lie, He is faithful and He is more that able to do what He has promised. Your role is to discipline yourself to look to God only and say what He says only, in order to see what He has said about you come to pass in your life.

Whatever you are faced with today, believe God. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly far above all that you ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Don't stagger at what God has promised through unbelief. Be strong in your faith because this is what brings glory to God. Most of all, no matter what your "hope against hope" is, be fully persuaded that He is more that able to perform what He has promised!

Love, peace and blessings,

Dr. Sheila

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