237. Hope During Trials

In this final episode of our Hope Series, we encourage you with the truth that hope is available, even in the midst of trials and difficult seasons. With Jesus as our foundation, we explore practical steps to maintain hope, stand firm in God’s promises, and experience His peace, no matter what you’re facing. If you find yourself hopeless in a difficult season, this is the episode for you.

Bible Verses:

Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.”

Psalm 146:3-5 – “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Hebrews 6:19 – “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”

Psalm 1:3 – “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

Galatians 5:16 – “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Romans 8:5-6 – “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Genesis 26:12 – “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.”

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “We walk by faith not by sight.”

Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Judges 20:26 – “Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.”

Acts 16:25-26 – “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”

Malachi 3:10-11 – “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.”

Topics Discussed

Hope in the Middle of Trials

No matter what you are going through, you can have hope!
Hope is not a concept or an idea. Hope is a person, and his name is Jesus Christ.
There are things you need to do on your end to be overflowing with hope.
God has invited us into a relationship and partnership with Him.
God is in charge, but He accomplishes His will through the cooperation of people on earth.
Who or what are you putting your hope in?
If you feel like you cannot trust the Lord, there is a reason, and you need to get to the bottom of that reason.
Put your hope, faith, and trust in Jesus.

Plant Yourself in the Word of God.

You can’t know the God of hope without knowing the Word of God.
In order to know God, we must spend time with Him in His Word.
Renew your mind with the Word of God.
The Word of God must be your firm foundation.
It is through the Word of God that we encounter the God of hope.
We must read the Word of God with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will teach reveal to you in profound ways.
We must know the word of God, believe it and then speak it.

Be Led by the Spirit

Set aside what you feel or think and let the Spirit of God lead you.
Speak out what the Bible says over your situation instead of focusing on the bad report.
Do not look at the natural realm. Set your mind on the things above.
Feelings are great indicators, but we can’t be people who are led by our feelings.
When Jesus was tempted, He spoke the Word of God to overcome the lies of the devil.
Your flesh leads to death, but the spirit of God leads to life and peace.

Walk by Faith

Walk by faith not by sight.
We don’t walk by what we see, we walk by faith.
When you are Spirit led you are walking by faith not by the things in front of you.
We are not operating in this kingdom; we operate in the kingdom of heaven.
We are citizens of heaven, and we must live as citizens of heaven.

Surround Yourself with Hope-Filled Community