-Strength for Today- "Hope for Uncertain Times." - Romans 8: 22-25.

    Considering what’s at stake, “hope” is the most invigorating words spoken in any language. When that word is spoken, that which seemed: 

• Impossible suddenly becomes possible, and where 
• Darkness prevailed, it' shadow is suddenly becomes light, and  
•  Despair turns to joy.  

   Although hope at times seems contrary to the circumstances we’re facing, but we as Christians, despite the emotions of uncertainty, “hope” becomes our choice.  

   Knowing this, we can each take steps toward being, hopeful believers. Therefore, ours is to walk by faith considering:  

• What God has said in His Word,  
• Rather than how the circumstances appear.  

      So, look beyond the immediate to the eternal. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” - Romans 8: 22-25. 

 Start praising and thanking God. Remembering His past faithfulness and current blessings takes your mind off troubles and lifts your spirit. We toss around words like:  

• Faith and 
•  Love all the time. 

      And most of us can describe both with minimal difficulty. But hope? What in the world is it? And is it really that essential? Webster defines hope, "to desire with expectation of fulfillment." Therefore, to hope is to anticipate. It's more than simply saying, “I have a dream.” 

   Hope is possessing within ourselves, an expectation that someday there'll be the fulfillment of that desire and It’ll become a reality. Hope always looks to the future: 

•  Hope keeps us on tiptoes. 
•  Hope is the energizer that keeps us going! 

       It makes a dismal today bearable because it promises a brighter tomorrow. Without hope, something inside all of us dies.  Someone once said, “We can live several weeks without food, days without water, and only minutes without oxygen, but without hope, forget it. 

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less 

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 

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand 

When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace 

In every high and stormy gale. my anchor holds within the veil. 

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. 

Written by: Edward Mote - 1883

Author PLez Lovelady, Jr., PhD