Biblical Hope Is God’s Antidote To DEPRESSION, DISCOURAGEMENT.
Depression can be such a debilitating, painful thing in an individual’s life, devastatingly so, but is there any hope, or is a person left to despair of the heart and mind without any hope? Not the mere wish so of hope as we often think of it but something solid, a firm foundation that elevates the mind out and up from the mire of the pit of darkness, gloom, and hopelessness? Does God Have any hope or is it beyond even Him? Indeed for the poor hurting depressing soul even such thoughts can come to mind from the enemy of their soul, “But God…” let’s look at the Psalmist…
“Why are you in despair,{sunk down} O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”-{Psalm 43:5 }.
The word “despair” means “downcast…disturbed”- laid low, depressed…agitated… “feelings” that took the Psalmist into deep despair. And he confronts himself asking a question and gives himself the answer-“Hope in God!” Faith’s confidence turns from despair to focusing on God, His Person, character, Word, and Promises! Think the Truth about Him, and trust in Him, as revealed in His Word. Set Him before your thinking.
As the Psalmist said, “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”-{Psalm 16:8}.
It is a fight but not one you have to battle alone, the Holy Spirit will help… “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. -{Romans 15:13}
The Psalmist cried out “Where does my help come from? My Help comes from the LORD Maker of Heaven and Earth!”-{Psalm 121:1-2.} The word “Help” was used for someone who upon hearing a cry of distress, ran to assist the one in need to assist, help in times of distress! It is also the same word translated as “help” in Hebrews 4 where we are all told to come to the Throne of Grace “…to receive HELP in time of need!” IT IS A CERTAINTY. God Himself guarantees it!
It is the “needy ones” who are told to come confidently, and expectantly to receive mercy grace, and Help in time of Need! -{ Read Hebrews 4:15-16.} The Psalmist encourages us “Blessed is the man who… delight is in the Law of the LORD and in it MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT.” It is to take a verse and go over and over in your mind, CONSTANTLY THINKING and rolling the Truth over in your MIND…… think, think on the WORD of God, it is what the Spirit of God uses to help His people…
Think word for word, phrase for phrase in light of its context, and speak and LISTEN to what God says rather than what destructive, demoralizing heartbreaking thoughts the evil one wants you to latch onto and control your thinking which affects your emotions, mood and the choices you make. You are in a battle, indeed spiritual warfare and this is one reason we have to put on the “helmet of salvation” as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6.
As the enemy seeks to hit blow after blow to our thought life, so we resist with his Word, as the LORD Jesus did when tempted in Matthew 4 “…It is written, it is written.” And we keep resisting and if you are too tired? Don’t worry the Spirit of God will bring back to your mind verses long forgotten, for once you have heard them, read them, memorized them He can and will bring back a verse at that moment to help…. and will begin to build you up with as Paul called it in Acts 20:32, “the WORD of His Grace which is able to BUILD You up!”
Biblical Hope is a “confident expectation,” of the desire for something Good that God will fulfill and the assurance to fulfill all of His good purposes.
The strength of hope is in God’s ability and RELIABILITY To Fulfill All Of His Promises!
- Biblical Hope is found in a PERSON -{1 Tim 1:1}.
- Biblical Hope is found in the WORD OF GOD. -{Rom 15:4}
- Biblical Hope is Experienced through PRAYER -{Rom 15:13}
- Biblical Hope is the GIFT OF GOD ministered through the Holy Spirit-{Rom 15:5; 13}
- Biblical Hope is the Answer to DESPAIR.-{Psalm 43:5}
Take time and read each verse mentioned. Meditate upon them, Pray them, and Praise Him who has given His Word to encourage you, strengthening you!
Biblical Hope is “Confident expectation”- The Certainty of eternal realities, as revealed in His Word!
Hope In Him!
PRAYER;
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”-{Rom 15:13}.
Hope produces joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
What a prayer of dependence upon the God of Hope and a prayer request!
Think of three people and pray this prayer for them. Put their name in the place of “you” so as to personalize it. Pray it for yourself. He is able and delights to answer prayer according to His Will as revealed in His Word!
God Bless,
Aidan,