Our eyes that now see dimly will look clearly into the face of God as His love chases away every last shadow of hopelessness.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.” (Lyrics by Edward Mote, 1834)
Perhaps you’re familiar with Proverbs 13:12, which says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” And if you’ve ever experienced hope deferred, you understand the Bible’s meaning all too well.
I still remember the sick feeling when receiving news that one of my long-time writing contracts had been “paused” indefinitely. The organization had merged with another, and under new leadership all new content had been halted. My hope was deferred that day—the hope of continuing to encourage many through the ministry I’d come to know as “family.”
As I turned to God for answers, He lovingly took me through a refining process, revealing the places where my hope was built on temporal things. Though it took many passes through the Refiner’s fire, I was finally able to surrender my disappointment and allow the Lord to rebuild my hope.
You might not know this, but the Bible mentions hope more than 130 times, reminding us, “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).
It’s the living hope we have in Christ Jesus that allows us to move forward despite life’s disappointments. It keeps us grounded in the Word and held fast to His purpose. So, if you’re experiencing hope deferred, please don’t despair.
Here are a few reminders about the living hope built on nothing less:
Nothing Less Than God’s Best
When navigating my emotions through the unexpected job loss, the Lord reminded me time and again that He had my best in mind. He was “for” me, not against me. What I perceived as negative, He turned into a blessing. Over the course of several months, He emphasized…
1. His Protection
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV)
2. His Favor
“Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:12)
3. His Purpose
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
4. His Anointing
“As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But just as His anointing teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as His anointing has taught you, you must remain in Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him].” (1 John 2:27 AMP)
When your plans fail, pray for wisdom and insight into what God is doing in your life. If certain areas require repentance, go to the Father and confess. Remember 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
If the Lord is leading you in another direction, pivot without complaint. And if He is silent, wait on Him patiently while continuing in other areas He’s called you to. Set your hope on nothing less than God’s best for you—even if it looks different than you envisioned.
Here are more comforting Scriptures to remember:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)
“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 power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Nothing Less Than Christ’s Finished Work
In all our strivings as humans, it’s easy to place our hope in personal achievement and earthly success. And while there’s nothing wrong with setting and reaching our goals, it’s dangerous to put our hope in anything less than Christ’s finished work on the cross.
As 1 Peter 2:24 so powerfully states, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Living in the righteousness of Christ, fully healed and delivered from sin and death, is our ultimate victory.
No earthly achievement compares to the glorious hope we have in Christ. As Paul emphasized in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Jesus’ perfect sacrifice is of first importance. It’s the foundation from which all other hope flows. Like a spring that bursts forth from the ground, hope in Christ’s finished work overflows with love, gratitude, and eternal assurance.
Here are more Scriptures for building a solid foundation:
“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.’” (Isaiah 28:16)
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV)
Nothing Less Than Eternity
One passage of Scripture I never tire of reading is Revelation 22:1-5, which says, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
In light of this passage, hope deferred becomes a temporary trial that will one day be replaced with the light of eternity. The river of the water of life will quench every thirst; the tree of life will heal every nation. Our eyes that now see dimly will look clearly into the face of God as His love chases away every last shadow of hopelessness.
My friend, I know the things of this earth weigh heavily, but don’t lose hope. Allow the Holy Spirit to renew your vision and bring His will into focus. Brick by brick, build your life on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Trust not in “the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
More Resources for Your Journey:
Looking to the New Year with Hope Rather Than Dread
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/David Dibert
