Hope perceived anew

Have you ever had that experience where you are looking for something or someone in your life and then one day you realise that it, or they, are right there with you?

We often talk about the hope of Christ or the fact that He gives us hope; we pray for peace or for comfort or strength and really do want hope in our situations that can often seem so hopeless. While driving and praying the other day, I had a fresh revelation of the fact that Jesus IS hope! The Holy Spirit IS comfort, He IS counsel, He IS wisdom, He IS peace, He IS joy! Yes they bring these elements to our lives and situations, but they more than just bring it, they ARE it!

In a time where anxiety, depression, hopelessness, financial pressures, sickness and the worries of this world are greater than ever before, we desperately need hope and I believe we need a fresh perception, revelation and reality about Hope!

So many times I have, and I’m sure you have too, asked God for peace or that He would give me hope and strength and yet I’ve missed the fact that Hope Himself is mine! Peace Himself is mine! Joy Himself is mine!

In fact HOPE travels with me everywhere I go because He never leaves me or forsakes me. Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Psalm 71:5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.

Wherever I go, whatever I face, STRENGTH Himself is with me. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Whatever life throws my way COMFORT Himself is with me! Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

If fear starts to grip my heart I can be at peace because PEACE Himself is with me! Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?

When the battle rages I know I am going to be OK because SALVATION Himself is with me! Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my Salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, The Lord Himself is my strength and my defence; He has become my salvation.

When my mind is a raging battlefield, I can be still because PEACE Himself is with me. Our Father gave us the ultimate peace – Holy Spirit! John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I constantly need help to navigate this life, and how blessed are we that HELP Himself is with us! John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.

The Bible is full of verses filled with the wonder of how great, mighty, amazing, compassionate and incomprehensible our God is!

I love Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Or mere crappy sicknesses or financial situations or other issues…) He IS your helper! Do not be afraid!!

What about 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion (Jesus!) and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

My prayer is that today you will look at things a little differently, that you will get a fresh understanding of the fact that in EVERYTHING you face, PEACE, COMFORT, JOY, STRENGTH, LOVE, COUNSEL, WISDOM, COMPASSION (and everything else in between) IS WITH YOU!! When you face anxiety and don’t want to get up in the morning, remember that PEACE is with you, He is there, let Him into your world. When you’re facing financial issues remember that WISDOM and HELP is there, He is speaking and wants to give you keys! When you are diagnosed with a sickness or condition that rocks your world remember that HOPE is standing there with you, carrying you through and never ever leaving your side! When you face a situation that grieves your soul, JOY and COMFORT are by your side, catching every tear and providing you with strength you never knew possible… I could go on and on because the Word is full of this revelation and I feel like my eyes have been opened anew, my perception of Him has shifted again to see Him clearer and to fall in love with Him afresh as well as having such gratitude at WHO He actually is!

Romans 15:13 says, “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.”

What is overflowing with hope? It’s overflowing with HIM! Allow your heart, mind, soul, spirit & emotions to overflow with Him, I pray that as you have read this and perhaps re-read it, that your perception will shift, that you’ll look at our precious God in a new light and that you will have a fresh revelation of this wonderful person who IS with you!

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Jodes xx