I once heard about a medical research involving patients with the same terminal illness at the same stage. The doctors gave each of them a notebook to write plans for the next 10 years, then watched them over time. They discovered something striking. Those who wrote clear plans lived longer than those who had none. That study revealed the power of hope.
Friend, have you discovered the power of hope? You cannot rise above the level of hope you carry (Psalm 42:11). As long as a person has hope, life and the devil cannot finish them. Anything, anyone, or any activity that gives you hope must be prioritized. Stay away from voices and conversations that paint pictures of hopelessness (Hosea 2:15, Joel 3:14).
The vision God has given you will help you live with optimism (Habakkuk 2:1-4). Sometimes, it’s not about achieving the vision immediately. It’s about having something to wake up for. It’s about having a reason to live each day. That is why idle people age fast. Vision keeps a man alive. It moves God to sustain you, and it tells your body not to shut down (Psalm 103:1-5).
The Word of God supplies hope (Psalm 119:49). That is why the devil fights your Bible study. When you see God’s promises and plans for you in Scripture, you find fresh reasons to live. The thoughts of God toward you are written in His Word. They are thoughts of good and not evil, to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
The church of God also supplies hope. People often slip into hopelessness when they abandon the gathering of believers (Hebrews 10:25). We are commanded to encourage one another daily. In times of economic hardship, political instability, and insecurity, the church becomes a voice of encouragement. That is why you must not join in attacking pastors and churches (Jeremiah 3:15).
Hope is the foundation of faith (Hebrews 11:1). A hopeless man is a faithless man. Hope gives you something to expect. When you act on that expectation, faith is birthed. If your faith seems weak, check your hope. Put your hope in God, in His Word, in the future He showed you, and in the vision He gave you. You will soon testify (Romans 5:5). Rejoice!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria