Hope in something eternal

This week's memory verse:
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." -- Isaiah 40:31

For many reasons, this verse is one of my very favorites. I have said it over and over in times of fear and waiting, and in times of happiness as well. 

If you have ever seen the majesty of eagles soaring over your head, the imagery is quite memorable. They fly high and strong and dignified, making it no guessing matter why they were named as a symbol of our nation. And who doesn't want to run and not grow weary and walk and not grow faint? We all wish for that kind of strength. Those who hope in the Lord...we HOPE to have that kind of strength and dignity. We learn THAT strength comes from God.

The Hebrew word translated "hope" can also be translated as "wait" or "trust." Those three words go together so well.

Psalm 33:20-22 - We WAIT in HOPE for the Lord. He is our help and shield. In him our hearts rejoice. We TRUST in his holy name.

Psalm 31:24 - Hope in the Lord
Psalm 33:18 -  hope in God's unfailing love
Psalm 130:5 - hope in God's word

Hoping in God is not just wishful thinking. This life that we live is so full of trials, problems, fears, reasons to panic...if you don't find hope in SOMETHING...you can get lost very easily and many do. Looking for hope in anything else besides God is pointless...nothing besides God is eternal and forever.

Romans 5:6 - at just the right time (God KNOWS the right time) he will keep his promises. 

Hoping in God is hoping in something eternal, not short-lived. That is sometimes hard for us in our microwave, throw away society...the things we have in our lives are NOT eternal. If they break, not living up to their promises, we throw them away and get new ones. God's love and his promises will not break and do not need to be replaced. He loves you forever! 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 - Even when we feel alone and abandoned, we can still hope in the Lord because HE GIVES US HOPE! The hope we can hang on to and gather strength from comes FROM God!

I see many people looking for strength in many different places...hoping in science, in knowledge, in drugs, in alcohol, in relationships. All of those things are temporary...they fade away.

 I love science and find learning new things fascinating. Learning how things work and the science behind it...how nature is so connected...I love it! But...technology is always helping us find out NEW things and putting old scientific theories behind us, replaced by the new ones. What once was true may not be now. Putting your all your hope in science will just get you frustrated and lost, unable to keep up.

Drugs and alcohol help some get through the day. They need that chemical in their bodies to keep them going, to dull their pain and help them forget. But we all know what putting all your hope in chemical solutions can do to your body...instead of giving you strength...they take it away...along with your life.

Relationships are important...my friends get me through some tough times...but people are human and make mistakes. Your relationships are going to fail or fade at times...putting all your hope in people will only leave you feeling hurt and bitter.

God knows that HE is the ONLY thing that will not fail us...we CAN put all our hope in him. When you open your heart to him and allow him to work in you and through you...he will give you strength that will last more than a life time! You will soar and not grow weary! I would rather put my trust and my hope in waiting on the Lord than on any earthly thing!